Fisherman's Friends

On 6 November 2027 at The Glasshouse – International Centre for Music in Gateshead, Fisherman’s Friends bring the sound of Cornwall’s harbours to the stage. Born in Port Isaac in 1995, this close-knit crew built its voice around sea shanties and coastal songs, first sung a cappella on the quay, later coloured by a light folk instrumentation. Their live set is all about unison and call-and-response, sturdy harmonies and work songs that carry the swell of the tide, the graft and the camaraderie of life by the water.

From early self-released albums to wider exposure with major-label records, the group has taken these songs from village pubs to big folk gatherings like Glastonbury and the Cambridge Folk Festival. Their journey even inspired the films Fisherman’s Friends and One and All, without pulling the focus from what matters most on stage: voices upfront, stories shared with a wink, and a rhythm that comes as much from the stomp as from the strings. In Gateshead, expect chorus-ready shanties, dry humour and grounded folk straight from the far southwest.