The Longest Johns

The Longest Johns bring their maritime folk to Boiler Shop in Newcastle upon Tyne on 15 May 2026. Rooted in close-harmony singing, the Bristol group revives sea shanties and work songs with a blend of a cappella power, steady rhythms and acoustic folk arrangements. On stage, their set leans into call-and-response refrains and communal choruses, moving between traditionals and originals like Bones in the Ocean. Stories of life at sea, rolling cadences and unison voices set the tone for a show built to be shared with the room.

Propelled into wide attention in 2021 when their version of Wellerman spread across TikTok, The Longest Johns went on to sign with Decca and tour far beyond the folk circuit. This year they round off their Pieces of Eight project with a 24-track compilation that distils an EP-a-month run, a snapshot of where their sound sits now. On this date, they anchor that momentum in a live set that connects past and present, keeping the tradition moving without losing the grit and simplicity that make these songs carry.