Crowborough u3a Shanty Group

The Crowborough u3a (University of the Third Age) Shanty Group  started 3 years ago purely by chance and within two weeks from when the group was born we had 11 members. We are now at 61 and still growing. It would appear that we are very popular.

To join you don’t need to be able to sing, just have a go. All the words are provided in our Shanty playlist books. Our Book contains 40 shanties but occasionally we drop in an old folk song normally with a reference to someone in the group.

We are NOT a choir.

As such you don’t need to read the dots (music scores) and missing a session is not a major sin, You come when you wish so if you are not feeling 100% then it doesn’t matter. We perform for various clubs and organisations such as care homes, WI’s etc. We also perform at pirate events such as Rye and also at Folk events.

We feel that, to keep it real, the music should sound spontaneous as it would have been in the time of square riggers and press gangs.

Musicians playing any of the following are very welcome;

Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele, Banjo, Bodhran, just about any percussion instrument, Accordion, Concertina, Melodeon, Mouthorgan, Violin, Viola, Cello, flutes, recorders and penny whistles.

We meet on the first and third Tuesday of every month at the Crowborough Community Centre room 2 & 3 at 2:00pm.

Our Subs are £6.00 per month consisting of two sessions. Because of our commitment to the Community Centre we request that you pay a minimum of £3.00 which is one session per month if you cannot make a whole month of two sessions. Tea and Coffee is provided along with a selection of biscuits at no extra cost. We do however request that you bring your own cup along with you.

We are here for fun, no pressure to do anything that you don’t want to do.