OUR STORY
Femmes de la Mer are a 15 strong group of women+ from Cornwall, The Femmes were formed 7 years ago by a group of friends attending the Falmouth Shanty Festival who were inspired to have a go themselves. Since then, they have evolved and grown, and have become a regular feature at the iconic festival, as well as singing at the Minack Theatre, and supporting Ben Howard at The Eden Sessions and Brixton Academy. They were recently filmed for a popular BBC series which will be aired in the new year.

The Femmes are passionate about sharing stories of inspirational Cornish women and keeping traditional shanties and folk songs about the seas alive. As well as traditional shanties such as Blood Red Roses and Haul Away Joe, the Femmes sing original songs telling the stories of three Cornish women which have been co-written by the group’s Musical Director, Claire Ingleheart. 

The singers hail from across Cornwall, from Tregony to Helston on the South Coast, and Porthtowan and Mount Hawke on the North Coast. The group includes film makers, teachers, actors, carpenters, photographers, carers, jam makers, farmers, artists, writers, musicians, nurses, herbalists, activists, potters, mothers, sisters and daughters.