Lytham St Annes Shanty Crew entertain beach-goers with boozy sea tunes for RNLI during stunning sunset
Meet the sea shanty crew who play humorous and boozy old sailing songs outside RNLI stations on the Fylde Coast.
Watch as the Lytham St Annes Shanty Crew entertained a crowd with booze-themed sea songs during a spectacular sunset.
The group of ten sea-loving musicians can be seen, in episode 44 of Unconventional Brits, playing an ‘open rehearsal’ outside the RNLI boathouse, on St Annes Promenade.
Monkey Stick made from bottle tops
In the folk music special, video journalist Lucinda Herbert meets ‘Monkey Stick’ player, Mike Brown, to find out the history of this traditional and quirky instrument.
The long stick is made out of lager bottle tops, and has a toy monkey and an old boot on the end, which the shanty man bangs on the deck to keep time. It is also called a Lagerphone.
Beer-themed shanties
Mike, who joined the crew in 2016, explains: “I am sad to say I wasn’t the one who made it. Our Cajon player, Mike Leach made it. He also drank all of the lagers to make the Lagerphone, and he kept drinking after that.”
The show includes musical snippets of some of the amusing and beer-themed shanties, which are a hit with beach-goers and passers-by.
Mexico Disaster remembered
And the crew raise funds for the RNLI at their weekly events. Clive Marquis-Carr explains: It’s poignant here in Lytham St Annes because in 1886 there was the greatest disaster that befell the RNLI when 27 lifeboat crewmen from Southport and St. Anne's crews, they lost their lives saving 12 of the crew of the Mexico. The Lytham crew saved them and it really sparked the public appeal for the RNLI. “
The group’s third album, Kilgrimol Bells, is available online and also raises funds for the RNLI. Follow the Lytham St Annes Shanty Crew on Facebook for a full list of their free open rehearsals.
Watch Unconventional Brits
For the full video, including musical snippets watch https://www.shotstv.com/watch/vod/52925007