Shanties welcome visitors after ocean voyage

The Albany Shantymen are giving cruise ship visitors a taste of the city’s maritime history.

The Shantymen, who rose to prominence through their regular pub shows, hosted the first Albany International Folk and Shanty Festival in April.

On Sunday, they had their first show at the Albany Port under a new arrangement with the City of Albany. Together with the young indigenous dancers who performed before them, the Kwongkan Middars, cruise ship visitors are now met with a slice of local culture.

Shanties were traditionally sung so a ship’s crew could work in unison with the songs’ rhythm.

The Albany group has a repertoire of songs from around the world — hailing from “wherever man harnesses the wind with rope and old canvas”. They also have several tunes that mention Australia or Albany.

Member “Grizz” Greenwald said he thought the The Albany Shantymen were a good fit at the port.

“When you look at Albany’s maritime history — and I’d include Aboriginal fishing, the Anzac fleet, the whaling industry and the fact that it’s WA’s first European settlement — I can’t think of many places that better suit that kind of shanty music as visitors arrive,” Greenwald said.

The Albany Shantymen’s port debut coincided with the maiden visit of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, a luxury ship with 10 restaurants and cafes, a ballroom and a two-storey library.

Cunard commercial director Katrina McAlpine said the ship’s 2000-plus visitors would have injected up to $500,000 into Albany’s economy.