Looking forward to giving a talk at the Oceanic and Maritime History Workshop at the University of Cambridge on Wednesday 11th February (4:30-6:30pm). They’ll be getting a sneak preview of some of the work I’ve been doing recently for my book… ⚓️🎶 #seashanties #maritimehistory
#seashanties #maritimehistory
If anyone fancies a bit of light reading, I really enjoyed taking a guest spot on Tin Cugelj’s amazing SOUNDSHIP research blog. In the post, I venture into the 15th century to discuss a very early example of shantying in the Mediterranean ⚓️🎶
soundship.uk/2025/12/21/s...
Hot on the heels of my first book contract with Palgrave MacMillan (2026), I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve just signed a contract with Bloomsbury to publish a book on the sailors and song collectors who saved the sea shanty (due March 2027). I can’t wait to get stuck in! ⚓️🎶 #seashanties #maritime
Fun to share ‘Did Shanties Begin in the 18th Century? Rethinking Dibdin’s Sailors and Maritime Song’ at the Music in 18th Century Britain conference today, hosted by the Foundling Museum. Oh, and I had to sing all my musical examples because the tech wasn’t working! #seashanties #maritimehistory
Braving the weather to hop aboard the Cutty Sark for the last shanty festival of the year ⚓️🎶
#CuttySark #SeaShanties #MaritimeHistory #BritishWeather
#seashanties #folksong #seasongs
Had a fantastic weekend in London presenting my paper at the Popular Airs and Traditional Tunes conference (plus bonus matinee of Othello on the side). Slightly surreal to talk to people who I largely know from citing their works in my PhD thesis - thank goodness they were all lovely! ⚓️🎶 #TTPA2025
Putting the finishing touches on my slides for the Traditional Airs and Tunes Conference at Cecil Sharp House next weekend! Can’t wait to hear everyone’s presentations - it sounds like a fantastic programme ⚓️🎶
Still humming shanties after an amazing couple of days at the Harwich International Shanty Festival! So glad that I managed to catch The Keelers in conversation - such great stories (and voices, of course) ⚓️🎶 #harwichinternationalshantyfestival #seasongs #seashanties #maritime
My new article is out in Nineteenth-Century Music Review! ‘Hearing London’s Sailortown in Shanty Repertoire’ explores how 19th-century sailors’ songs reflect the noisy, lively, often precarious world of London’s docklands. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
#MaritimeHistory #Musicology #SeaShanties
Spent the weekend grappling with Medieval sources of shanty singing- swapping out last week’s Greek texts for Latin dictionaries. Looking forward to rolling up my sleeves for some deep manuscript work next weekend as I step into the Early Modern period #seashanties #maritimehistory #FromShiptoScreen
Stepping out of my 19th/20th-century comfort zone to explore proto-shantying in Ancient Greek and Roman sources. Largely relying on my schoolgirl knowledge of Greek (which I haven’t studied since I was 14) to get me through! #FromShiptoScreen #shanties #seasongs #οἶνοψπόντος ⚓️🎶
A nice little summary of my Autumn/Winter research project (‘From Fo’c’sle to Footlights: Maritime Imaginaries in British Musical Theatre’) has just been published on the V&A website ⚓️🎶
www.vam.ac.uk/blog/news/va...
Had a brilliant few days at the RMA Conference. I presented on London’s sailortown and shanty repertoire (no one criticised my map-drawing skills!), and had a great time reconnecting with colleagues. Can’t wait for Belfast 2026! @royalmusical.bsky.social
www.molliecarlyle.com/post/reflect...
Following the Annual Conference, I’m delighted to share that I have been awarded a Royal Musical Association 150th Anniversary Fellowship! This will support the completion of my book: ‘From Ship to Screen: The Cultural Legacy of Sea Shanties’. Huge thanks to the RMA for this recognition! ⚓️🎶
Speakers Announced!
For the two days of Traditional Tunes and Popular Airs Conference at @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social in November. Book your tickets now.
bit.ly/47sgL0e
I'm thrilled to share that I've received a £1,000 grant from the V&A/Bunnett-Muir Musical Theatre Archive Trust to write a new article: ‘From Fo’c’sle to Footlights: Maritime Imaginaries in British Musical Theatre’. Can’t wait to dive into the archives! ⚓ #VandA #TheatreStudies #CulturalHistory
A couple of years ago now, I think - but yes, that was me!
Here is the (very) short Q&A with me that appears in the official Tall Ships Aberdeen programme. I spoke about historical shanty singing and multilingual traditions. Proud to be credited as a maritime musicologist! #seashanties #maritimehistory #TallShips
Just returned from the Tall Ships Race in Aberdeen. Saw two ships Stan Hugill once sailed on: Belem and Sørlandet. It rained non-stop, but it was still a joy to be back in the city. www.molliecarlyle.com/post/tall-sh...
Glad to see that my new website is up and running! 🎉
Next week, I’ll be posting about the Tall Ships Race in Aberdeen (including my own involvement), so stay tuned.
www.molliecarlyle.com
Presenting a paper at the North American British Music Studies symposium on ‘Rethinking Landscape: Environment, Place, and Heritage in British Music Studies’ this evening. It’ll be great to share some of my initial thoughts on developing a maritime-led framework for understanding global history.
Had an absolutely amazing time at the Connecticut Sea Music Festival. This is my second year attending and on both occasions I’ve been blown away by how supportive, encouraging and knowledgeable everyone is. Can’t wait to come back next year and do it all over again! #seashanties #maritimehistory
Made it down from Boston to the Connecticut Sea Music Festival. Especially looking forward to the Hugill paper from the fantastic shanty singer, Jerry Bryant! ⚓️ #seashanties #maritimehistory
In more publication news, my article on ‘Shanty singing in the Mediterranean’ has just been published in the Journal of the Hakluyt Society, if anyone fancies a read. #maritimehistory #SeaShanties #Mediterranean
www.hakluyt.com/journal-of-t...
Publication news! This morning I signed the contract for my first book! *From Ship to Screen: The Cultural Legacy of Sea Shanties* is officially underway and will be published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2026. ⚓️ ⛵️ 🎶 #Shanties #FromShipToScreen #MaritimeHistory
Quick dash from the British Library to the Royal College of Music Museum to talk shanties for a new exhibition ⚓️ #maritimehistory #seashanties
At the British Library today (with a horrendously overpriced coffee) for a meeting of the Abolition Song and Its Legacies research network. Looking forward to sharing my work on the maritime history of British abolition song and chattel slavery. #seasongs #maritimehistory #tinycoffee
🎉 Just booked my flights for the Connecticut Sea Music Festival in June!
Looks like there’ll be absolutely amazing papers at the symposium. Always some of the best shanty singing that I’ve come across live too. Can’t wait! #seashanties #seasongs #maritime
