The Longest Johns

On 9 May 2026, The Longest Johns bring their sea-soaked folk to Limelight, Belfast. Rooted in Bristol, the quartet began as an a cappella crew and now shapes a lean sound of tight harmonies, simple percussion and acoustic folk textures. Their live set moves between traditional shanties and originals inspired by life at sea, blending work-song refrains, storytelling and chorus parts made to be shared.

Known for giving a global echo to Wellerman, the group folds that wave into a broader repertoire: Bones in the Ocean, plus songs drawn from Written in Salt, Between Wind and Water, Cures What Ails Ya and Smoke & Oakum. On stage, voices lead the way; guitars, fiddle and drums color the rhythm without weighing it down. Expect call-and-response, steady stomps and lyrics about crews, storms and shorelines.

The focus stays on four voices that lock together. For Belfast, The Longest Johns line up a set built on raw delivery, clear melodies and the collective energy of a room singing as one.