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Shanty choir festival in Wilhelmshaven: anniversary delights the masses!
The Shanty Choir Festival in Wilhelmshaven 2025 attracted many visitors and is planning exciting innovations for the future.
Shanty choir festival in Wilhelmshaven: anniversary delights the masses!
The Shanty Choir Festival in Wilhelmshaven took place on July 13, 2025 and, despite initial concerns, attracted numerous visitors. In bright sunshine and temperatures over 20 degrees, the guests experienced a colorful hustle and bustle on the Bontekai. The venue was packed and the atmosphere was great. The event, which has now been held for the ninth time, has its origins in a beer mood and is organized by Helmut Möhle and Andrea Rieskamp from Wilhelmshaven Touristik & Freizeit.
Although the festival got off to a rocky start - a late choir caused last-minute changes to the schedule - the event was a complete success. The culinary offerings ranged from bratwurst and antipasti to typical northern German specialties such as Labskaus.
High expectations and impressive performances
The highlight of the festival was the performance of the Shanty Choir from Berlin, which was recently invited to the renowned German-American Steuben Parade in New York. Other notable participants included the “Blue Boys”, the Magellan Singers Delfzijl, the Shantychor Bad Zwischenahn and the Shantykoor Maritiem Winschoten. The two floating stages on the harbor tug “Knechtsand” and the lightship “Norderney” created a unique ambience, while the stationary stage at the Coastal Museum was not used this year.
Andrea Rieskamp in particular emphasized the need for change in order to attract a younger audience. Planning for the next festival begins in autumn; Finding suitable choirs will be a challenge.
A look outside the box
Another example of the creative power of shanty choirs is the Christmas concert of the Paderborn Shanty Choir, which is known far beyond the Paderborn region. It brought together songs like “The Little Drummer” and “Ave Maria der Meere” under the musical direction of Heiko Isermann, supported by various instruments and guests. The tickets for such concerts show that such events are not only in demand regionally, but also nationally.
Overall, these festivals showcase the vibrant culture of shanty choirs and the identity they promote through music and community. The positive response from recent years suggests that the future continues to look promising for this tradition.