Fisherman's Friends: Sea Shanties in Gateshead

The Fisherman's Friends bring their authentic Cornish sea shanties to Gateshead for a night of folk music and humour. Known for their a cappella roots and now often featuring simple instrumentation, the group blends traditional songs of the sea with contemporary folk. Attendees can expect a lively performance filled with shanties, nautical songs, and the group's characteristic wit.

The group's members have deep ties to the sea, with backgrounds as fishermen, coast guards, and lifeboatmen. Their repertoire includes both classic shanties and more lewd nautical tunes, delivered with a large dash of humour. The current lineup includes Jeremy Brown, John Lethbridge, Jason Nicholas, Toby Lobb, John McDonnell, Jon Cleave, and Bill Hawkins, with occasional additions like Simon Johnson and Marcus Bonfanti.

This performance offers a rare chance to see a semi-professional group that doesn't tour extensively, making each show a special event. The Fisherman's Friends have performed at major festivals like Glastonbury and Cambridge Folk Festival, and their Gateshead date promises an evening of heartfelt, humorous, and historically rich music.