The Rusty Backstory: A Tale in 3 Acts

Seven men dressed in vintage Western attire sitting in a row, holding beer mugs, at an event with a band setup in the background.

To no one's surprise, The Rusty Tubs were borne of an evening of drunken revelry ... and alcohol-induced amnesia!

(ACT 1)

Matt, Sam, and elder statesman Paul are hoisting tankards one evening in 2017. Inspired by the choral singing of medieval ballads and fueled by fine ales and gin, Matt encourages the others to pop round his residence sometime later for a go at forming a group. The next day, as he is wont to do, Matt forgets. Undeterred in his union jack waistcoat, Sam belts out Boney was a Warrior and Paul shares his encyclopedic knowledge of shanties. The winds blow fair and The Rusty Tubs set sail!

Joined by classmates Ed, Richard, Olie, and Deegan, the flat-cap adorned and waistcoat-sporting crew are seen but rarely heard at ports up and down the coast.

A group of men wearing light blue shirts singing outdoors, with a banner that reads 'Mariners Away' in front of them. Some are holding drinks, and they are standing in front of a storefront.

(ACT II)

One fateful day at The Gloucester Tall Ships Festival, the Mariners Away, one of the most well established and talented shanty groups in the world, and for reasons known only to them, invite the Tubs to join them on stage. They cannot foresee the consequences!

With hearty voices and distinctive look, the Tubs become a force to be reckoned with. They sing at shanty festivals near and far, always looking dapper in their vintage attire.

But just as the sea changes, so goes life - a plague strikes the land and a few Tubs take to sea on different currents. The fair winds subside and the Tubs find themselves in the doldrums. For this ship to survive they send out a call.

(ACT III)

Their SOS is answered in the dulcet harmonies of Nick. Wielding his bodhrán he sets out to right the ship. Knowing this can only be accomplished if he finds the singer known by legend as the Black Blue Fish, Nick sets to work through a royal connection.

Known in pubs from the banks of the Severn to the heart of the Forest, the Fish is eventually tracked to the Black Pig. Now more recognisable by his beard than his scuba suit (if you ever chance upon him, he may tell the tale), the libertine, opium-eater, drunkard, duellist, gambler and wastrel known as Daevid recruits the singing-strummer Mark and later, the velvety deep-toned Jack. Alfie the Kid and Darren round out the crew and The Rusty Tubs are ready to hoist up the halyards again!

Where they may end up is anyone’s guess but they can usually be found in the dingy depths of the dankest dives...

A group of eleven men standing on a street in front of houses, dressed in vintage style clothing, some holding metal mugs and one holding a large tambourine.