Shanty Club | The Salty Sirens
Ever fancy being a pirate for a night? Shanty Club with the Salty Sirens gives you that and so much more. It’s a simple premise: take two great voices, an accordion named Moni, a treasure map to navigate through the setlist, add in whiskey and other alcoholic beverages and top it of with an audience willing to demonstrate their own vocal pipes.
Performed at the End Bar in West End, immediately there was a nice and friendly atmosphere as many knew each other and those new were made to feel included. Singing is mandatory, but all voices are welcomed.
Everyone is made to feel included even myself through all my anxiety, it took me a little bit to let go and sing but once I did most of my fears vanished and I realised how much fun it is to sing along to a sea shanty. Admittedly in the beginning I was sitting in the back of the ship going into my shyness shell, but I mustered up the courage and brought myself to sit at the front. By the end I even lost my voice a bit.
Elyse and Kristy were both great throughout the night. Keeping the audience engaged with their strong vocals and Kristy’s skill of playing the accordion, while throwing in their wit and humour between each shanty which added to the overall fun vibe of the night.
There’s such a power to communal singing. When a large group of people can come together with a similar interest and sing in union, whether you think you’re a good singer or not, it feels special joining in on the choruses and sharing in the collective voice. Elyse and Kristy have that understanding and knew how to get the audience engaged as they built up to the final shanty which allowed members of the crowd to come up with their own lyrics for us all to sing along to.
Audience participation is an important element of the show, with some going full on pirate cosplay. It felt like a show that can work on a small scale but also easily be transferred to a larger stage.
What also made it stand out was Elyse and Kristy’s unique take on the shanties and incorporating LGBTQI+ themes among others that made the shanties feel relevant and personal as they were able to share and express themselves.
It’s for people who enjoy a sea shanty but is also for anyone that is interested in signing and especially testing out their vocals as part of a friendly and welcoming group. I recommend it to anyone that is looking to get out and have some fun, whether you’re completely new or have similar experience elsewhere, it’s a nice way to unwind and let go for a night.
Overall Shanty Club with the Salty Sirens is a great concept that is still in its early parts on the voyage, and it’ll be interesting to see how it continues to unfold or what it could evolve into. We may never get the chance to sail the seas in a pirate ship, but a night at the Shanty Club with the Salty Sirens might be as close as it gets.
