The Longest Johns

The Longest Johns drop anchor in Southampton on 25 May 2026 at The 1865, with harmonies built for chorus singing and stories that travel from dockside work songs to contemporary folk. Born around a Bristol kitchen table, the trio — Jonathan “JD” Darley, Andy Yates and Robbie Sattin — mix tight a cappella blend with simple acoustics, keeping the pulse of traditional sea shanties while folding in their own songwriting.

Propelled into the spotlight when their take on Wellerman caught fire in 2021, they’ve since toured hard and expanded a catalogue that swings between heritage tunes and originals like Bones in the Ocean. Recent projects include the Pieces of Eight cycle, rounded into a 24‑track release, and Voyage, paired with a book of short stories and lyrics. On stage, expect call-and-response shanties, stacked harmonies and communal refrains, alongside newer material such as Face the World and songs from Smoke & Oakum. It’s folk music close to its roots, carried by voices that invite the room to sing along.