Inspired by a pleasure cruiser that goes by the name of the ‘Yorkshire Belle’, their latest single is a fitting tribute to this worthy vessel.
Since the 1940s, The Yorkshire Belle has been a familiar site in Bridlington Harbour. Well known by locals and admired by tourists, during the summer months it will take hundreds of holidaymakers, along the coast out to Flamborough Head (and back) on a leisurely one hour cruise. Its history goes back even further too, with the boat being a rebuild of an original vessel commandeered for use in WWII, which was sunk by a mine in the River Humber near Hull, with all of its crew sadly lost.
Explaining why the story of the ‘Yorkshire Belle’ has resonated with the band, Dan Heptinstall says “Having written shanty style tracks about The Amsterdam, and the famous Lynmouth overland lifeboat rescue – ’13 Miles’ on our previous two albums, it was nice to write about something very close to home and close to my heart. My childhood memories are infused with warm summer memories of the Yorkshire Belle, both as a passenger, and of seeing it out at sea heading to and from Flamborough. The boat has helped create memories for thousands of people across many generations, and continues to do so – nearly 80 years after it was brought into service”.
‘Songs From The Yonder’
Saluting this seaworthy sensation in style, Skinny Lister have picked the vessel to launch their new album ‘Songs From The Yonder’ aboard its decks on the day of its release (9th May 2025).
“It seemed like the perfect choice to officially launch our new album ‘Songs From The Yonder’ on the Yorkshire Belle, and having spoken to the skipper Pete, who’s owned and operated the boat since 1982, it was a pleasure to get that scheduled-in for album launch day. It was also great to have it sell out in just a couple of days. Should be an evening to remember!”
Support on the day will come from esteemed folk musician Jim Eldon, who has long been associated with the boat and provided musical entertainment with his voice and fiddle upon the vessel for many years, before retiring.
New single ‘Yorkshire Belle’ follows ‘Plough On’, and ‘Set Us Straight’ (revealed at the end of last year), with all three tracks due to appear on the new album ‘Songs From The Yonder’. Picking up where the acclaimed ‘Shanty Punk’ left off, their seventh studio album will find the band revelling in their nostalgic touchstones, while facing the future with a wide eyed sense of optimism and a warming reverence for what has been. With plenty of harks back to their folk roots and some more tender touches too, long standing fans will be enamoured to hear that those classic Skinny themes of drinking, travelling, the sea and ploughing on in the face of adversity, are still hoisted high on the band’s flagpole throughout this latest outing.
A mix of chest-thumping anthems, shanty sing-a-longs and folk/punk classics, tempered by a some of the most tender and reflective songs the band have penned yet; ‘Songs From The Yonder’ will be released on 9th May 2025, via Xtra Mile Recordings, on coloured vinyl, CD and digital.
Tour dates
Coinciding with the release, the Skinnies will be hitting the road for a run of instores and shows throughout release week. Expect further touring of the UK and Europe to come later in the year. The confirmed dates so far are as follows:
MAY
7 – Rough Trade Bristol – instore
9 – Yorkshire Belle, Bridlington – SOLD OUT
10 – Jacaranda, Liverpool – instore
11 – Stowmarket, John Peel Centre
12 – Brighton Resident – instore
13 – Banquet, Kingston – outstore at Fighting Cocks
14 – Rough Trade, Nottingham – instore
16 – Holmfirth, Picturedrome
17 – Bedford, Esquires
23 – Lyme Regis, Marine Theatre
24 – Monmouth DeVauden Festival
SUMMER FESTIVALS
JUNE
1 – Wychwood Festival, Cheltenham
14 – Beardy Folk Festival
20 – Sign Of The Times, Herts.
JULY
6 – The Gate To Southwell, Southwell
AUGUST
2 – Northern Kin Festival
3 – Doune The Rabbit Hole
9 – Doncaster, GIAF7
23 – Volk Im Schloss Festival, Germany
