Fisherman's Friends

On 26 November 2027 at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Fisherman’s Friends bring the sound of Cornwall’s harbours to the stage. Formed in Port Isaac in the mid-90s, this crew built their voice around sea shanties and maritime work songs, first a cappella, then lightly coloured by folk instrumentation. Their live set threads call-and-response, stacked harmonies and tales of weather, rescue and life at sea, drawing from early self-released songs through Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends, One and All, Proper Job and Sole Mates.

On stage, it’s all about voices up front and a steady pulse that lets the chorus take hold. Verses pass from singer to singer, the humour stays dry, and the refrains are made to be sung together. The group’s path from quay-side sessions to big folk festivals and even the silver screen hasn’t changed the core: unvarnished songs carried by a collective sound. In Manchester, expect a repertoire steeped in tradition, close harmonies that lock in tight, and those sea-born melodies that turn a hall into a communal sing.