Shantify! – Assembly Rooms

Fishy fun never sounded so good!

The six likely lads that make up Shantify are off to a winning start. The sold out tent does not lie! Six because they get to call themselves a sextet, which is way cooler than a quartet or a quintet!

Anyway, it’s all blue jeans and brown leather boots, stripy tops and Fairisle sweaters (looks hot!) and neckerchiefs as they drop anchor (well, they started it!) in George Street, Edinburgh for the duration of the fringe. Folks are going to be clambering for tickets for this one.

Seriously though, like all great ideas, this one is so simple, but is so well executed!

Combining six of the West End’s leading men creates some dreamy harmonies, as a selection of popular songs from stage and chart are turned into sea shanties. First up for the Shanty treatment is the Dolly Parton number 9 to 5. You can imagine them, lonely sailors sitting around on the deck looking out to sea and having all the time in the world to play with the arrangement and choreography. Which is very clever, obvs.!

Some of the group are intentionally, slightly camp, in a sailory sort of way, which also provides plenty of comic moments. These guys are all comfortable being the lead on stage, so as part of a group of six they just look super-relaxed, like they are having a whale of a time together, hitting sweet spots of inclusivity and trust and creating a brilliant group dynamic. It is believable and authentic and it obviously also sounds bloody brilliant!

I’m not going to tell you the full set list, I’ll just leave that to your imagination, anyway Fisherman’s friends might be listening! Suffice to say this is a blast and could easily go on to be one of the hottest tickets of the Edinburgh Fringe this year. You have been warned! Book early.

13:00 Daily until 25th August, https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/shantify

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 5th August 2024

North West End UK Rating: