The Longest Johns

The fifth studio album from The Longest Johns is a unique take on traditional folk and shanties which is their “most fantastic splendiferous journey yet”, according to the band members Jonathan ‘JD’ Darley, Andy Yates and Robbie Sattin

The record is informed by seafaring history, inspired by key moments and landmarks which have sparked stories, tales, and legends throughout the centuries. The first taste of the album comes with new single ‘Shawneetown’, an infectious foot-stomping acapella track out now.

Regarding the single Andy says, “Shawneetown, in Southern Illinois, was a major trading centre back in the day. Located close to where the Ohio River meets the Wabash. Keelboats were an extremely efficient transport for trade then but had to be pulled upriver against the current on the return trip. I can only guess how gruelling the work would have been for the crew.”

Voyage comes 10 years after the band first met in Bristol and embarked on their thrilling journey which has seen them ride huge waves of success and carve pivotal chapters in their distinct career.

Funded entirely by their loyal fanbase and to be self-released across all formats, Voyagehas been recorded across three studios in sessions planned between tours and festival dates over the last 18 months. The fully DIY release will be available on coloured vinyl, compact disc and cassette with a plethora of added extras, including merch, artwork, and the beautifully crafted companion book that features all the lyrics and seven short stories written in the world of Voyage alongside a wealth of insights and anecdotes.

“The music and artwork have sparked the creation of an entirely new universe for us,”explain the band. “We hope the album and its artwork will ignite everyone’s artistic endeavours too, whether in music, painting, storytelling, or any other form of creative expression.”

Although The Longest Johns have travelled many seas delivering their contagious sound to many lands, on Voyage home makes a regular appearance. Before Bristol, Andy and Robbie originally called Liverpool home, and the important shipping city is regularly referenced in the likes of the honky tonk anthem ‘Leaving Of Liverpool’, or the musings of “He gave me a dish of American hash and he called it Liverpool scouse” on ‘Paddy West’ which closes the record.

"Liverpool was a very famous port town in the great days of sail and so many of the songs reference Liverpool as it's the port they would have sailed into as the sailors returned home,” says Andy.

The Longest Johns have already laid their marker with nine full-length albums, four EPs and ten singles, among them the 2021 version of 'Wellerman', which saw the band kick start an inescapable sea shanty craze on social media. The Longest Johns took the 150-year-old folk song from New Zealand and turned it into a worldwide viral sensation, which swept the group to No.2 berth on the US Spotify Viral Chart and No.5 globally.

Throughout history the UK’s greatest seafarers have been doted by royalty, and the same can be said for The Longest Johns who performed for the late Queen’s birthday party at the British Embassy in Paris in 2022, which is just one of their many unique and wonderful shows around the world.

Bullion aplenty has bestowed the band, however The Longest Johns cast away such things. Upon surpassing 300 million streams, the band rejected the traditional gold disc in favour of an environmentally friendly wooden disc made by music industry legend Gold Disc Dave using recycled ship's timbers. And now with more than 500 million streams across all platforms, over half a million YouTube subscribers and some 200,000 hours watched on Twitch, The Longest Johns are set fair to continue pitching and rolling in fraternal harmony on their way to the horizon.

The band embark on their latest world tour in February 2024, starting with an extensive run across Europe before hitting the UK in March which is then followed by the US in May.