The Longest Johns

On 16 May 2026, The Longest Johns dock at Manchester Academy with a set of maritime folk carried by tight vocal harmonies. Rooted in Bristol, the quartet began a cappella and has since folded in simple percussion and acoustic arrangements, keeping the grit of work songs while opening up new textures. Their repertoire moves between traditional shanties and originals shaped by life at sea, from the tide-like sway of Bones in the Ocean to stormier ballads. Written in Salt and Between Wind and Water laid the groundwork; Cures What Ails Ya and Smoke & Oakum pushed the mix of chorus-led storytelling and contemporary folk detail. First noticed online through homemade shanty videos, the group then took these songs across UK and European stages and festival crowds. In 2021, their version of Wellerman travelled wide, yet the core remains collective voices, steady rhythms and stories of crews, ports and voyages. The show leans on call-and-response, sturdy melodies and a rough-edged blend of stomps and acoustic strings, built for shared singing without losing the calm pull of the sea.