EXCITEMENT is building ahead of this year's Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival, with just over three weeks to go before the big weekend.

As previously reported in the Packet, one of the major new attractions this year is the addition of a fourth main stage at the event, which runs from June 14 to June 16.

Situated at Prince of Wales Pier, it will be the fourth main stage at the festival – alongside those at Events Square, Custom House Quay and The Moor – and will be called the Falmouth Packet stage, reflecting the newspaper's partnership with the festival.

Organisers have spoken of their excitement at adding the fourth main stage, as it is something they have been wanting to do for some time.

One of the organising committee, John Warren, said it would help to "better showcase the hugely talented performers who give their time freely to benefit Falmouth RNLI", which is the charity that the festival raises money for.

The fourth stage has been made possible thanks to South West Bars and Events, which is providing the stage and sound engineers, and the Packet's partnership.

Access to the new stage will be via the Pier Cafe, which will provide refreshments throughout the weekend.

John said: "This represents an exciting development for this great festival, enabling more people to enjoy more shanty groups performing on a professionally managed stage."

The newspaper will continue to give its name to the festival's Saturday night Falmouth Packet Shanty Concert, for which there were only a few tickets left at the time of writing.

Featuring Tom Lewis, Les Marins Des Abers, The Molgoggers and Short Drag Roger, it is the only part of the festival that requires a ticket. They cost £15 from The Poly Box Office on 01326 319461 or online at www.thepoly.org

More than 60 groups will be singing at 25 venues around town across the weekend.

The Packet will be publishing all of the event information, including any changes to the programme, in its June 12 edition and there will be coverage online at thepacket.co.uk across the weekend itself, as well as plenty of pictures in the paper after the event, in the June 19 edition.

The full list of acts is:

ACAPELA MOONSHINE

AGGIE BOYS CHOIR

ALAN WHITBREAD

ANCHORS AWEIGH

BACK BEACH BOYZ

BALDRICKS PLAN

BAMALUZ BOOTLEGGERS

BARNACLE BUOYS

BOSUNS CALL

BRYHERS BOYS

CADGWITH SINGERS

CAPE CORNWALL

CAPTAIN CAT & THE SAILORS

CULDROSE MILITARY WIVES

DU HAG OWR

DUTCH UNCLE

DRECKLY'S

EL PONY PISADOR

FALMOUTH FISH COLLECTIVE

FALMOUTH SHOUT

FEMMES DE LA MER

FIGUREHEAD

FISHERMAN'S FRIENDS

FISHGUARD FOLK SINGERS

FIVE MEN NOT CALLED MATT

FLASH JACK

KANERIEN TROZOUL

LES MARINS DE ABER

LES SOUILLES DE FOND DE CALE

LONGEST JOHNS

MARINERS AWAY

MOLGOGGERS

MONKEY'S FIST

NANKERSEY MVC

NAUTIBUOYS

NAZE SHANTY CREW

NORDET

OLL AN GWELLA

PIRATES OF ST PIRAN

PORTSMOUTH SHANTYMEN

PRESS GANG

RED RIVER SINGERS

RIVER NOTES

RUM & SHRUB

SEVERN WHALERS

SHERINGHAM SHANTYMEN

SHORT DRAG ROGER

SLOOP GROGGY DOGS

STUNS'LS SHANTY GROUPE

SUITCASE SINGERS

SWINGING THE LEAD

TAVY TARS

THE CHANTRY BUOYS

THE COUNTRYMEN

THE JOLLY STRUMPETS

THE NAVY LARKS

THE OGGYMEN

THE OLD GAFFERS

THE SOLENT SHANTY BUOYS

TOM LEWIS

TOPGALLANT JACK

TREIZHADENN

VAGRANTS CREW

VENT DE NOROISE

WAREHAM WHALERS

WELLINGTON WAILERS