BiografieTHE SHANES - founded in Trier in 1991 - play hard polka. This is a unique mixture of rock, polka, country and elements of folk from different parts of the world, with a pinch of punk and ska, hardrock and lots of fun while performing. The band is welcome at any kind of live event because it doesn´t only serve a niche but offers rousing entertainment for all interests and all ages without losing its very own individual style.

Just a short time after their foundation, THE SHANES present themselves as a first class live experience, performing on a supra-regional scale. Just one year later, the first CD Songs From The Urban Country Hell, being produced with minimum effort, is released and arrests the attention of the specialised press. Kathrin Achinger becomes interested in THE SHANES and signs them for her label Strange Ways. She is the driving force behind the band when the album Polka Hard is recorded just one year later and the first (vinyl-) single Love Will Tear Us Apart, a polka- tuned cover version of the Joy Division classic with Kathrin as guest singer, is played by John Peel in his BBC radio programme.

>From1994 on, the "Mötorhead of Folk" (Tageszeitung, Munich) tour all over Germany and the adjoined countries. In the beginning of 1995, the EP TheseDays comesout. In 1996, THE SHANES record a split- CD with the Hungarian band Vezerkár in Budapest. The CD is exclusively available on the Hungarian market and - as a strictly limited edition - at THE SHANES´ live shows.

After that, the band tours England and France. In 1998, THE SHANES are invited to join the SXSW- Festival in Austin, Texas and the Oktoberfest in Houston, being accompanied by a TV- team of SAT1, one of the biggest nation-wide commercial TV stations in Germany. The outcome is a feature about the band in the daily programme.

After divers changes of band members that throw back the band´s development for a short time, two ex- members of the Gothic cult- formation AIMLESS join THE SHANES. A punchy, constant bunch of people has now gathered, being able to excelling the former number of gigs.

In 2001, The Haunted House Of Polka (Pinorrekk) is released and features Christian Anderle (ANCIENT CEREMONY) as a guest star.

In 2003 and 2004, THE SHANES are part of the musical Shockheaded Peter at the Stadttheater Trier, every single performance being sold out. The band refines its stage presence in terms of outfit, show and stage decoration and headlines shows at festivals and clubs in front of up to 6,000 people. The increasing popularity is given evidence by augmented requests for appearances of fans, radio stations and record shops in the US, Argentina, Spain, Siberia (!!) and recently even Japan among others.

To the US- based, worldwide largest music website allmusic.com, THE SHANES are "Europe´s foremost ambassadors of Gypsy/Hungarian/German/Folk/Polka/Punkrock" (Dave Sledger). All albums are recommended by 4 of 5 possible stars in the reviews. A fact even more well-known bands hardly manage to achieve.

In 10/2004, the new CD Pölka is recorded and will prospectively be released in 02/2005. It is the best hardpolka album ever.

More lively than ever, it eventually manages to capture the sparking energy of the live shows of the Lucky Seven from Trier.Quelle: http://www.shanes.deDiscografieSongs From The Urban Country Hell 1992 CD

Polka Hard CD 1993

These Days EP 1995

Budapest Sessions 1996 CD (nur in Ungarn erschienen)

The haunted House Of Polka CD 2000

Pölka CD 2005

Polka Over Serja - Live In Chosebuz CD 2007
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