Fisherman's Friends

The Fisherman’s Friends bring the sound of Cornwall’s harbours to Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent on 4 April 2027. Formed in Port Isaac in 1995, this chorus of friends from the quay, the lifeboat and the fishing boats carry a repertoire of sea shanties and maritime songs. On stage, their stacked voices lead the way — often a cappella, sometimes underpinned by a spare folk backing — with call-and-response, easy refrains and stories shaped by the coast.

Their set draws on traditional work songs and the material they’ve recorded across the years: early self-released discs, then Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends and One and All for Universal, through to Proper Job, Sole Mates and One and All: Music from the Movie. The harmony craft is front and centre, from rumbling basses to bright tops, with steady rhythms built for clapping and that dry Cornish humour slipping between numbers.

A show rooted in oral tradition and shared voices, carried by singers who still sound like the place they come from — direct, communal and made to be sung together.