Online shanty sensations The Longest Johns to launch new album this weekend

On Sunday 30 January at 11.30AM, shanty stars The Longest Johns will launch their album in true nautical style in their hometown of Bristol in an obscure ‘Duck Boat’ which, like their music, is fit for both land and sea. 

Image: The Longest Johns

What started off as a joke suggestion, will soon become reality when the band, who last year hit the headlines with their Wellerman global viral success, ship their energetic harmonies and vibrant oilskins from river to Rough Trade as part of their Record Stores Tour across the UK for album release week. Find their ‘Duck Boat’ route from the Bristol marina linked here.

The Longest Johns will sing en route as they make their way across the water, then straight through town to their destination. Bringing new album Smoke & Oakum to life on the streets of Bristol, the four famous friends will serenade passers-by with heartfelt tracks such as single Hard Times Come Again No More and The Workers Song, which is dedicated to integral workers throughout the country. Utilising their legions of online fans, the band invited key workers to join the guestlist of their live appearances across the country. 

The pioneers of the TikTok phenomen and chart hit, Wellerman, have accumulated over 310 million streams across their catalogue (and counting) and marked their version of Wellerman as the top track in over 187,000 shanty specific user-generated playlists. Their abundance of sold-out shows saw a need for extended tour dates in the UK and overseas, as they prepare to hit the US in February this year. They will certainly need more than the Duck Boat to get them there.  

The Longest Johns' new album 'Smoke & Oakum' released via Decca Records January 28th here.