Fisherman's Friends

The Fisherman’s Friends bring Port Isaac’s shanty tradition to Halifax on 23 April 2027 at Victoria Theatre. Formed in 1995 by a crew of Cornish lifeboatmen, fishermen and locals, the group built its sound around unamplified voices, call-and-response and close harmonies learned on the quay. Over time they’ve folded in light folk instrumentation—concertina, guitar, percussion—but the core stays a cappella: sea shanties, forebitters and hymns that travel from the pub to the stage without losing their working-song cadence.

On stage, expect a set that dips into early self-released material through Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends and One and All, with newer songs shaped by years on the road and their film projects. Stories and dry humour link the tunes, and choruses are built for audience voices. The repertoire shifts from heave-ho refrains to slower laments carried by a line of tenors and basses moving as one. Rooted in oral tradition and shared rhythm, The Fisherman’s Friends offer a live experience where collective harmony leads and the salt of Cornish coast songs sets the tone.