The Longest Johns

The Longest Johns bring their tidal folk back to Bristol Beacon on 30 May 2026. Rooted in Bristol, the quartet began a cappella, four voices locked around old work songs from the sea, then grew a lean acoustic setup with guitar, banjo and simple percussion. On stage, they slide between traditional shanties and original writing, tracing a line from haul-and-heave refrains to contemporary storytelling.

You’ll hear the harmonies that first took off online, including their take on Wellerman, alongside self-penned pieces like Bones in the Ocean. The set draws from Written in Salt, Between Wind and Water, Cures What Ails Ya and Smoke & Oakum, balancing call-and-response energy with quieter ballads about life afloat and ashore. Linked to the Sea of Thieves universe through various collaborations, they keep the salt in the songs while opening them to a broader folk sound. In their hometown, expect a communal, voice-forward show where the chorus is close at hand and the shore never feels far.