Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends

Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends

Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends is a folk and sea shanty group from Port Isaac, Cornwall. The group is known for singing traditional shanties and Cornish folk songs, with performances associated with summer evenings on the Platt in Port Isaac.

Formation and members

The group originally performs as Fisherman's Friends. Its line-up includes Jeremy Brown, John Brown, Jon Cleave, Billy Hawkins, John Lethbridge, John McDonnell, Jason Nicholas and Toby Lobb. Earlier members named in the group’s history include Julian Brown, Trevor Grills, Nigel Sherratt and Peter Rowe.

Recordings and releases

The group’s first album with Universal is Port Isaac's Fisherman's Friends. It is recorded in St Kew Parish Church in Cornwall and features 12 songs drawn from the Port Isaac repertoire. The album includes traditional material such as “South Australia”, “The Cadgwith Anthem” and “Brightly Beams”.

Performance history

Fisherman's Friends sing in the local area during the summer months, and their live sets are described as being built around shanties and Cornish songs. The group is also connected with Glastonbury Festival, where it has a performance listed.

Background

The singers come from Port Isaac on Cornwall’s north coast, and the group consists of men who are or have been fishermen, lifeboatmen and coastguards, alongside other local occupations such as building, artisanship, hotel work and shopkeeping. The group is associated with a record deal with Universal.

Losses

Trevor Grills and tour manager Paul McMullen die in an accident while the group is touring in February 2013.