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 and available to listen to here.
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. Full dates are listed below. Tickets and more information can be found at thelongestjohns.com
2024 LIVE DATES
EUROPE
18 Feb De Wildeman Arendonk, Belgium
19 Feb Im Wizemann - Club Stuttgart, Germany
20 Feb Mascotte Zurich, Switzerland
22 Feb Rock Cafe Prague, Czech Republic
23 Feb Taubchental Leipzig, Germany
24 Feb KENT Club Hamburg, Germany
25 Feb Chez Heinz Hanover, Germany
27 Feb Luxor Cologne, Germany
28 Feb Tolhuistuin (Paradiso) Amsterdam, Netherlands
29 Feb Paard van Troje The Hague, Netherlands **SOLD OUT**
01 March Kavka Zappa Antwerp, Belgium
UK & IRELAND
13 March O2 Academy Oxford
14 March Student Union Cardiff
15 March Institute 2 Birmingham
16 March Club Academy Manchester **SOLD OUT**
18 March Summerhall Edinburgh **SOLD OUT**
19 March University Students Union Newcastle
20 March Irish Centre Leeds
22 March The Foundry Sheffield
23 March The Drill Lincoln
24 March Academy 2 Leicester
25 March Junction Cambridge
27 March Waterfront Norwich
28 March Electirc Ballroom London
03 April Chalk Brighton
04 April Engine Rooms Southampton
05 April Phoenix Exeter
06 April Bristol Beacons
24 April Cyprus Avenue Cork
25 April Dolans Upstairs Limerick
26 April Opium Rooms Dublin
27 April Limelight 2 Belfast
US & CANADA
07 May The Sinclair Cambridge, MA **SOLD OUT**
08 May Le Poisson Rouge New York, NY
10 May Ardmore Hall Ardmore, PA
11 May Birchmere Alexandria, VA **SOLD OUT**
12 May. Birchmere Alexandria, VA
13 May Orange Peel Asheville, NC
14 May Buckhead Theatre Atlanta, GA
17 May Brooklyn Bowl Nashville, TN
20 May Fine Line Minneapolis, MN **SOLD OUT**
21 May ThaliaHall Chicago, IL
23 May Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, ON **SOLD OUT**
24 May Bronson Center Ottawa, ON
25 May Theatre Beanfiled Montreal QC
UK FESTIVALS
18 July G! Festival, Faroe Islands
18 August Purbeck Folk Festival
24 August Shrewsbury Folk Festival
VOYAGE TRACK LISTING
- The Llandoger
- Whisky Is The Life Of Man
- Proud Mary
- Leaving Of Liverpool
- Mutiny
- Skadi’s Hammer
- John The Red Nose
- Greenland Whale Fisheries
- White Frontier
- One Hundred Feet
- Willie Taylor
- Maggie’s Ship
- Shawneetown
- Paddy West
