Les Receneurs

Les Receneurs is a four-piece sea shanty group from Nantes in France whose repertoire is composed half of traditional and half of contemporary pieces. 

They’ve crafted their own distinctive sound, marked by the rhythmic blend of guitar, bouzouki, and accordion, enriched by the melodic layers of flute and harmonica—this is what they call the “Receneurs’ colour.”

Through their music and songs, the group aims to celebrate and share the culture and lives of sailors from Brittany and beyond, past and present. They bring this vision to life by actively participating in live performances and cultural events.

From Sport to Music…

All marathon runners with the Racing Club Nantais (RCN), the Receneurs, (sometimes spelled “ReCeNeurs” in homage to the club) first came together as a group of friends. They began by livening up a few club events and soon discovered a shared passion for music. This led them to explore and develop a repertoire rooted in traditional sea shanties.

Under the guidance of Jean-Marc—affectionately known as “The Captain”—the group made its debut at local events. In 2003, Alain joined on the diatonic accordion, followed by Bernard, a singer and musician who plays both acoustic and bass guitar. The group’s sound was further enhanced by the original compositions of guitarist Christian, also known as “The Basque.” His songs have added a festive flair to the Receneurs’ performances, turning each appearance into a joyful celebration of music and camaraderie.

Their stated “latest website address” was not found to be operational at time of review, (July 2025.) so has not been provided here.