Shanties at Samson

Join The Lost Quays for an afternoon of music and history at historic Samson House. Explore this fascinating National Trust-managed home, with strong sea connections, then join the Quays outside for sea shanties and sea songs from Western Australia and beyond. Welcome on board!

We start at 3 pm with an opportunity to visit historic Samson House, built in 1888. The Samson family had a strong Fremantle connection, with members serving as Mayor, and hosting Naval officers from visiting ships. Sir Frederick Samson considered Fremantle the best place in the world, with “Perth its mere adjunct”.

The Lost Quays are in concert in the garden (chairs provided) from 4 to 6 pm, with the WA launch of our new CD, Tall Tales, Tall Ships. We’re Fremantle-based, performing with energy and humour, and relish a good audience connection! You’ll hear standards of the shanty world, plus originals about the days of sail. Known for our strong harmonies, we sing both a cappella and with accompaniment, and enjoy telling the tales behind our songs.

We toured the UK and Europe in 2018, and performed at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart in 2019 and 2023. Regulars at festivals in WA, in 2024 we’ll be at Canberra’s National Folk Festival and Fairbridge.