26/04/2026
Our next performers for the Year of Cornwall at the Heart of the Celtic Sea at Festival Interceltique de Lorient 2026 are Banjovial Music!
They will be performing on the Place des Pays Celtes stage on Sunday 2nd August as well as various other times around the festival and in the Garden of Cornwall.
"Forged on the rugged North Cornish coast, Banjovial was brought to life by friends Calum, Jamie and Tom, with the sole intention of merging time served seagoing experiences with exquisite musicianship and delivering to audiences far and wide. As the music developed, Celtic passion and a love of old time found its natural place, and out of the melting pot came an identity that blends the region's rich maritime heritage with infectious rhythms and melodies, creating a sound that is both nostalgic and exhilarating.
Having played extensively together as part of the popular Celtic folk band The Stowes, the trio seamlessly intertwine with each other’s unique playing style to create an energetic, yet effortless musical experience, masterfully weaving the rich traditions of nautical songs and shanties with the vibrant sounds of Celtic and bluegrass music.
From self-penned songs of seafaring and misadventure to sing-along folk ballads and shanties dutifully mixed with fast paced jigs and reels, this genre defining trio have made a space they proudly refer to as Shanty Grass.
Inspiration is drawn from every direction, and fans of We Banjo 3, Gaelic Storm, Skipinnish and The Longest John’s (to name just a few!) will feel comfortingly familiar in this space. The collaboration between Irish Banjo maestro Damien O’Kane and Bluegrass heavyweight Ron Block in particular was pivotal to the vision and creation of Banjovial.
So, whether you're a seafaring soul or a landlocked dreamer, Banjovial invites you to join them on a musical journey that celebrates the enduring spirit of the sea and endless quest for musical perfection. "
