On England’s south coast, in and around the city of Brighton and Hove, a group gathers frequently to sing.
In pubs and bars, on the beach, in the fields, and inside a historic windmill, they sing songs of land and sea: shanties, working songs, traditional folk music, and even original compositions introduced by the participants. All are welcome to join, regardless of experience or vocal ability.
I first discovered them at a local pub in 2021 – a good, old-fashioned community boozer on the outskirts of Brighton, a meeting place for a ragtag bunch of folks from all walks of life. The pandemic had put a pin in everyone’s enjoyment for the best part of two years but, the germs having begun to clear, they had regrouped.
I hadn’t attended deliberately. As I sat with a quiet Sunday pint, the pub began to busy, and before long was filled with the sound of communal singing. Tentatively, I joined in. And then I kept returning.
These photographs were taken over the course of 18 months during 2024 and 2025.
