AudeShantyMen fall under the spell of El Cau !!

Magical setting enchants Crew on first international gig

Inspired performance captivates Spanish and British alike

The  tiny, traffic-free hamlet of Esclanyà - its narrow streets almost lost in the mysteries of time - played host to the AudeShantyMen on Saturday night. The honey-coloured houses surrounding the church square echoed to the strains of the Crew who sang their hearts out at this, their first, concert beyond the border. 

Hosted by the inimitable Tere Axon, and her personable husband Tony - the formidable team who formerly owned the renowned "Star" in Lidgate, twice voted UK Pub of the Year - the 80 strong sellout audience wined and dined on the exquisite Catalan cuisine which is Tere's hallmark.

  

As the last rays of the setting sun gave way to the soft  blue velvet of the Costa Brava night, the AudeShantymen dipped into their extensive repertoire of rousing shanties, humorous ditties and appealing songs of love in bygone times. Somehow everything seemed perfectly suited to these fabulous surroundings and, despite the barrier of language, the Spanish members of the audience became more and more animated and involved as the evening progressed. 

Sharing the entertainment duties with the AudeShantyMen were the talented singers Els Mariners de Riera, a well known group in Catalunya who have been charming audiences since their formation in 1982. With their tender songs of love and life - the "habaneras" of Cuban origin -  delivered in perfect harmony to the haunting accompaniment of a sole acoustic guitar, Els Mriners provided the ideal counterbalance to the Crew and ensured that their British audience received a perfect introduction to this important musical genre. We hope that this will not be the last time that the AudeShantyMen have the pleasure of sharing an enthralling, melodic evening with our Spanish friends.

HASTA PRONTO !!