Waves of emotion: what makes a great sea shanty?

Laura Barton travels to the Falmouth International Sea Shanty festival for a lesson in sea-faring songOut on the bay, the boats are jostling in the breeze, rain speckling their pale masts and the bright red buoys. Back on land, in the low-lit warmth of the Chain Locker pub, a band called Bone Idol have just taken to the stage: eight men in jeans, polo shirts and comfortable shoes, looking entirely ordinary until they start to sing. "Let your harbour lights keep burning," they begin, a rich, stir...

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