The Longest Johns

Bristol’s The Longest Johns bring their sea-soaked folk to Saint Luke’s & The Winged Ox in Glasgow on 13 May 2026. Born as an a cappella quartet, they’ve built a sound around close-knit harmonies, simple percussion and acoustic textures, reviving shanties and coastal ballads alongside original songs shaped by life at sea. Their viral take on Wellerman opened the floodgates, but the group has long been crafting sturdy choruses and stories that land just as well in a club as on a quayside.

On stage, expect call-and-response, unison refrains and a set that moves between traditional work songs and newer material from albums like Cures What Ails Ya and Smoke & Oakum. Bones in the Ocean and other fan favourites sit next to lesser-known shanties, all carried by clear voices and arrangements that keep the focus on the melody and the tale. It’s music built for joining in, with the room turning into a choir by the second chorus. If you like your folk direct, rhythmic and communal, this one’s for you.