The Saltburn Smugglers are bringing traditional sea shanties into the modern era, combining original songwriting, rich harmonies, and deep-rooted coastal heritage. With packed-out shows, school workshops, and new music on the horizon, the North East group is quickly gaining momentum. Liza-Lou Campy caught up with founder Keith Ayling to find out more.
How did the Saltburn Smugglers begin?
About four years ago, it became clear that music could play a powerful role in improving mental health. Singing has emotional, physical, and psychological benefits, and when combined with our local maritime heritage, the sea shanty genre felt like a perfect fit. I gathered some local musicians, and we started the Saltburn Smugglers. I have a background in songwriting – I had a record deal during the Britpop era – and I wanted to contribute new material to the genre. Around half of our set is made up of original songs. Even the traditional ones are given fresh arrangements.
Why Saltburn?
There were already shanty groups in Marske and Staithes, so we wanted to create something distinct. The Smugglers offer a more contemporary take – dynamic, inclusive, and energetic.
How many members are in the group?
There are ten of us, including Kate and me as founders. It’s the perfect number to get strong harmonies and layered vocals. The line-up includes Phil, Cal, Chris, Rex, Phil, Dom, Alex, and Gary. If someone leaves, we audition new members. There’s been a lot of interest in joining, so we’re launching ‘Big Sing’ nights where anyone can come along and sing with us for one night. There’ll be a local brewery involved, so keep an eye out for the dates.
What’s been your most memorable gig so far?
That’s tricky -every performance has its moments. Sometimes it’s just one person saying, “That song really moved me.” Running our first river cruise on the Tees was amazing, and selling out the Kirk Theatre in Pickering was definitely a highlight.
Do your shows involve much audience participation?
Absolutely. Shanty music is all about joining in. The songs are designed to include everyone, and that’s a big part of our shows, especially the originals, which are written with audience involvement in mind.
Tell us about your work in schools…
Three of us have a background in education. I’m a Professor of Songwriting, so school outreach felt like a natural step. We’ve run dozens of workshops where we get whole classes singing in minutes. We’ve even co-written songs with students. When more children started coming to gigs and asking to sing, we set up two choirs in Saltburn. They rehearse weekly and perform with us, and we’ve seen huge boosts in their confidence, performance skills, and love of music.
Your debut single ‘Santiana’ is out now. Why this song?
It’s one of the most streamed shanties on Spotify and has great energy, which reflects what we bring to our live shows. It’s always a crowd favourite.
The track was recorded live – was that important to you?
Yes. We wanted to capture our raw, unfiltered sound – no overdubs, no studio polish. We’re planning one more live EP before heading into the studio properly next year, which I’m really excited about.
How is your version of ‘Santiana’ different?
We’ve rearranged it – added a repeated hook and shortened it for impact. Traditional versions can be long; we’ve tightened it up without losing the story.
Any big plans around the release?
Yes, our summer ‘Shanties on the Shore’ series ties into the EP. It’s now Saltburn’s biggest music event. We play three times on the promenade, the gigs are free, and hundreds come out, some with picnics and chairs to grab a good spot. We also raise money for the RNLI.
How does it feel to take traditional music into the digital world?
Incredible. The response has been amazing. Seeing people light up when we sing is why we do this. Songwriting and singing bring joy, connection, and hope – and we’re proud to be part of that.
You can listen to ‘Santiana’ now on all major streaming platforms.
