Stiff Mast & the Plankers
Formed on September 3rd 2025, Stiff Mast & the Plankers are a crew of twelve voices drawn from across East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, from Beverley in the north to Cleethorpes in the south. What began as a simple idea among friends has grown into a lively band of singers united by a love of sea shanties, strong harmonies, and the sort of good humour that seems to follow sailors wherever they gather.
Our name, first suggested by Chris and later adopted by majority vote, reflects the spirit of the group perfectly. It is a little nautical, a little mischievous, and very much not taking ourselves too seriously. Like the planks of a good ship, each voice brings something of its own, but together we make a sound that is far sturdier than the sum of its parts.
We focus on traditional call and response shanties and maritime folk songs, learning harmonies as we go and singing them the way they were meant to be heard: loud, hearty, and shared among friends. All of us share a love of singing; some of us come from choirs, some are shared friends, and some simply have a love of chanties and folk. The aim is always the same. Raise a glass, lift our voices, and give us all a place where we feel valued, heard and fun!