It's been five years since the last one, but this weekend marked the return of the Hull Folk and Maritime Festival.

Hull Folk and Maritime Festival is a celebration of the city's ports, along with all the cultural influences that came with it. Bringing poems, shanties and tales from the sea for a weekend of centuries-old tradition to the mouth of the Humber.

Returning after a prolonged break, the festival is running from August 23 until August 25 around the Hull Marina. Having never been to an HF&MF, I spent an hour seeing what the festival was all about.

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The festival, under its current form, has been on the go since 2012. Hull Folk and Maritime Festival had been passed the baton from Folk Union One - which began in clubs throughout the '70s and the Hull Sea Shanty Festival in 1990, all with the aim of keeping folk music alive and bringing it to the masses.

The Marina and Humber Street is always a popular place to have a wander around on a Saturday, and the fact that this festival was free and completely accessible to all made it feel extra special.

The full street was in the Festival mood - with dancers along Humber Street
The full street was in the Festival mood - with dancers along Humber Street

With the main stage outside The Minerva, it made sense to go there first. As the space opened up, I was greatly surprised at the turnout. The Spare Hands were just making their final preparations ahead of their 1 pm slot. After an introduction to the band, the frontman asked the folks to raise a glass to their former member - Mick McGarry, with the main stage named in his honour.

The quintet was something, quite frankly, I've never heard before - The lyrics about being a three-day millionaire fresh from a trip at sea in harmony with the funky instruments. The audience was a mixture of older people, families, and those in between.

This was not the only stage. Knowing that there was more music being played at Humber Street Gallery, I ventured in that direction only to find the Rewilding Youth workshop. Outside the colourful Wykeland unit, a group of youngsters sat in a huddle playing Wellerman (the viral sea shanty from a few years ago). I even got asked to join in, but had to politely decline - but stayed to listen to the impressive rendition.

The Dan Thomas Maritime & Traditional Stage @ Humber Street Gallery
The Dan Thomas Maritime & Traditional Stage @ Humber Street Gallery

Humber Street Gallery was full with people watching Kevin Young's slot. It would be hard to think that this was a gallery and not a full-time music venue. The one-man show had good reason to draw a crowd, and with the backdrop of Dead Bod added that little bit more to the venue.

For the first time attending the Hull Folk and Maritime Festival, I was impressed. I did not know what to expect, but I'm sure seasoned Folk goers will be glad more than anyone that the festival has returned. The fact that there are no tickets and being in one of the most desirable spots in town is great; allowing people just to roam to get a taste of folk music is fantastic.