Sea shanties in a Sydney small bar

The older I get, the more I’ve developed a real appreciation for small bars, compared to the big, impersonal venues I used to frequent.

My first taste of their charm came during a trip to the Netherlands in 2008. I stumbled upon a tiny bar that held maybe 30 people. It turned out to be a karaoke bar run by a couple who belted out Dutch and English songs, encouraging us to join in.

A group of Spanish guys and I decided to bravely attempt a well-known Dutch song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAB3CnL5yWA We butchered it, of course, but the couple behind the bar were in stitches laughing, and the whole room erupted in laughter. That night, I discovered the magic of a small bar’s intimacy and camaraderie. (See earlier blog post https://jamesobrien.id.au/2008/08/hello-from-berlin/)

I’m delighted to have a small bar not far from where I live in Surry Hills called “The Nocturne”. https://www.instagram.com/thenocturnebar/?hl=en

They’ve been around for two or three years now, initially opened by a couple of blokes, Dave and Eric. Dave is no longer an owner, though he helps out from time to time.

It’s a great place to call into a couple of times a week for a chat with Eric, or with random people you might meet at the stool next door. Memorably, I’ll never forget the night when a pro-Trump tourist arrived.

One of the great things they do is provide a venue for live music, including jazz, folk, country and Irish.

And every second Thursday they have sea shanties. Yes, those songs which sound terribly colonial in many respects. In the words of one of the organisers tonight, some of those sounds don’t stand the test of time, but many do, and they provide a wonderful backdrop for an evening over a glass of wine or beer and communal singing.

https://www.instagram.com/surryhillsshantyclub