The Longest Johns

Bristol’s The Longest Johns steer their maritime folk into the room on 22 September 2026 at RUST, Guldbergsgade 8, 2200 Nørrebro, Denmark. First known as an a cappella quartet, they’ve grown a sound that keeps the core of close harmonies while weaving in simple percussion and acoustic textures. Their repertoire moves between traditional sea shanties, coastal ballads and originals shaped by life at sea, with songs like Bones in the Ocean now staples alongside time-worn work chants.

From early uploads that sparked an online following to tours across the UK and Europe, the band has built a set that balances call-and-response energy with stripped-back folk arrangements. The Wellerman phenomenon opened their music to a wider crowd, and albums from Written in Salt through Smoke & Oakum trace that path: chorus-led storytelling, steady rhythms, and melodies that travel easily from stage to audience. On stage, The Longest Johns keep the focus on the voice—layered, anchored, and unhurried—letting the songs carry the salt, the toil and the drift of long voyages.