Albany’s Maritime Festival returns in July to warm up winter with marine-themed music, culture and events

Albany will celebrate winter with ocean-themed fun in July as the annual Maritime Festival returns with a big program of events, culture and music.

The festival celebrating the City’s maritime history starts this week with Foreshore Friday at the Boatshed, a new addition to the festival’s line-up featuring live music and food trucks to open the festival.

The festivities will begin with music from Walpole singer Amber Shei, before hearing from Dig the Dust, Empire and DJ Kevin to close the event.

All at Sea Saturday held this weekend from 10am to 5pm will see the community enjoy the chance to get on the water with the Denmark Community Rowing Association, cooking demonstrations, VR experiences, a real-life “mermaid” the fun of the annual Build-a-Boat competition and regatta.

The regular Sunday Boatshed Markets will be joined by a maritime themed youth market on July 2.

Music will delight at the Town Hall throughout the month, with Sounds of the Sea each Saturday showcasing the talents of WA musicians, including Tom Fisher and the Layabouts, The Late Night Organ Donors, Martin Lee Cropper and Stacey Ann.

The Albany Shantymen will take to the stage on the night of July 22 to celebrate the release of their latest album, following an afternoon Shanties and Shandies show exclusively for seniors.

The Town Hall will also be lit up on Thursday nights with a host of maritime-themed movies throughout the month, with kids movies showing at 4.30pm and adults at 7.30pm.

Albany’s maritime history will also be explored during the festival with local history talks by historian Adam Wolfe at the Albany Public Library on July 20, 22 and 27.

Menang Maritime History Exploration Evenings on July 3, 5 and 11 at Six Degrees will see local Menang elders join historians to explore their culture and long-standing connection to the marine environment.

Albany’s maritime connection will also be explored through art with the Ocean Dreamscape exhibition created by the museum’s Art Ability participants open all month at the Museum of the Great Southern.

The G+B Exhibition on at the Hilton Garden Inn from July 8-27 sees more than 40 artists take inspiration from the colours green and blue to create multimedia artworks.

The second annual installment of the exhibition will be curated by City of Albany visual arts officer Indra Geidans, who said she was excited to be working with the subject matter.

“We learnt last year that the theme of green and blue clearly resonates with local artists whose plethora of work had to be experienced rather than explained,” she said.

“With a rich theme and cross-section of mediums such as painting, sculpture, textiles, photography, welding and weaving — we are expecting another incredible display of local talent.

“The exhibition isn’t just for the artists and the audience, it is also a fantastic opportunity for art lovers and collectors to add to their selection of pieces.”

City of Albany mayor Dennis Wellington said the Maritime Festival would brighten Albany’s winter.

“We start the Maritime Festival at the Albany Boatshed because it is synonymous with our rich maritime culture and looks right out onto the water,” he said.

“The Maritime Festival has proven to be synonymous with July in Albany, where if you want to get involved then it’s best to start booking these fantastic events in your diary now to avoid disappointment.”

Tickets for ticketed events are available from: https://www.cityofalbanyevents.com/maritime-festival