LONDON – The long forgotten sea shanty has been enjoying a renaissance on social media and is now moving into popular music with two U.K.
artists landing record deals, following their online performances. Scottish postman Nathan Evans and Bristol folk band The Longest Johns signed record deals last week, with Evans even securing a No.1 record in the U.K.
for his recording of the New Zealand song “Wellerman,” which he originally performed on TikTok. For some artists, the sea shanty has long been part of their repertoire.
New Zealand band The Salty Wailers started singing together a year ago as an “excuse to go for a pint on a weeknight,” performing in pubs across Wellington.