Fisherman's Friends

On 3 September 2027, The Sands Centre in Carlisle welcomes The Fisherman’s Friends, the Port Isaac singers who have carried Cornwall’s sea songs since 1995. Their set leans into traditional shanties and nautical work songs once heard on the quays, built on close harmonies, unison leads and call-and-response refrains made for collective singing. Mostly a cappella at heart, the group now adds a lean folk instrumentation onstage, keeping the grain of the voices out front.

From early self-released records to later major-label albums, the crew has kept the same compass: stories of tides, ships and everyday coastal life, laced with dry humour and a sense of community. You’ll hear staples from their Port Isaac repertoire alongside newer pieces shaped by years on British folk stages, from festival fields to intimate halls. No frills, just songs passed on by ear, a chorus that swells, and moments where the audience becomes part of the crew. A slice of Cornwall finds its echo in Carlisle for an evening at The Sands Centre.