Emerging from Bristol in the U.K., the a cappella and folk ensemble the Longest Johns first drew widespread attention through sea shanties before achieving viral reach. Josh Bowker, Andy Yates, Jonathon Darley, and Dave Robinson established the group in 2012 after spending an evening performing sea shanties at a barbecue hosted by a friend. Their initial EP, Bones in the Ocean, appeared the next year. Ahead of a slot at the 2015 Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival, Bowker stepped aside to witness the birth of his first child, with Robbie Sattin filling in and later becoming a permanent member. The band issued their debut album, Written in Salt, in 2016, though Bowker departed shortly afterward to concentrate on his business. Anna Cornish replaced him in 2017 and contributed to the follow-up, 2018’s Between Wind and Water, which featured the track “Wellerman” that later spread virally. Cornish exited in 2019 to focus on her other band, the Norfolk Broads. For their third album, Cures What Ails Ya, released in 2020, the Longest Johns added full instrumentation for the first time. Early in 2021, “Wellerman” went viral, prompting a deal with Decca Records and a sharply elevated profile. The following year brought their fourth studio album, Smoke & Oakum.
