Fisherman's Friends

The Fisherman’s Friends bring the sound of Port Isaac to Bristol Beacon on 16 September 2027 with a set steeped in sea shanties and coastal folk. Formed in the mid-90s, the group gathers voices from the harbour to carry work songs, story ballads and call-and-response choruses that once kept time on decks and quays. Live, the balance stays simple and direct: close harmonies up front, a cappella passages that ring out, and light touches of guitar, fiddle or accordion when the song needs it.

The night leans into tales of storms and homecomings, toasts and farewells, paced by stomps, handclaps and refrains built for joining in. Their repertoire draws on long-standing traditionals alongside arrangements road-tested on UK folk stages, with melodies that travel and choruses that stick. At Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, Bristol, expect voices leading the charge, lyrics steeped in salt and spray, and the easy camaraderie of a crew that sings as one.