Rye Harbour Herrings sang at the Queens Head on Friday, February 23 as part of Rye Bay Scallop Week.
What makes them unique is that many of the songs they sing are narrowly local, written and originally performed within the small village at the mouth of the river Rother. More than that, many of the singers are “Rye Harbour Girls”, born and bred within the community.
The back room at the pub was packed and the audience was warmly enthusiastic: indeed a couple of bookings were taken on the spot for future charitable events. The Herrings mostly sing for the love of it and to preserve the tradition of Rye Harbour shanty singing but are always ready to put their services at the disposal of charities, either by entertaining local groups gratis or by collecting at events for charities such as the RNLI.
People stayed on afterwards to chat to the group and ask about the songs and their origins. Jonathan and his delightful staff provided refreshments afterwards including the most delicious scallops. They had done a roaring trade during scallop week and supported the event wholeheartedly.
