Fisherman's Friends

Fisherman's Friends is a German group of male singers who perform sea shanties a cappella. The act originally uses the name Fisherman's Friends and is also known as Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends. The group is based around an English singing tradition, although the origin given for the group is Germany.

Formation and style

The group begins performing locally in 1995 and is made up of 10 male voices. Its repertoire centres on sailor songs and other sea shanties, delivered without instrumental accompaniment. The members come from Port Isaac in Cornwall, and all but one grow up within half a mile of Port Isaac harbour. Three members are fishermen, while the others have links to the sea through coastguard or lifeboat work.

Members

The line-up includes John Brown, Julian Brown and Jeremy Brown, who are brothers, along with Trevor Grills, John Lethbridge, Billy Hawkins, Nigel Sherratt, Peter Rowe, John McDonnell and Jon Cleave. John McDonnell is the only member described as coming from Yorkshire. Jon Cleave serves as the group’s MC. Peter Rowe is the oldest member.

Recordings and awards

The group releases two self-produced CDs before signing a record deal with Universal Music in March 2010. Its first Universal album, Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends, is recorded in St Kew Parish Church in Cornwall and issued in April 2010.

At the 2011 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Fisherman's Friends receives The Good Tradition Award for helping keep folk music alive and for bringing it to new audiences.

Festival appearances

The group performs at a number of major UK festivals, including Cornbury in Oxfordshire, Glastonbury and the Cambridge Folk Festival.