News / Bristol Harbour Festival
The Longest Johns to headline Harbour Festival 2025
Bristol’s own shanty favourites are set to bring this year’s Harbour Festival to an apt close.
The Longest Johns‘ nautical-themed performance that is a playful take on the English sea shanty-singing tradition, will top the bill of Sunday’s Made in Bristol showcase on the Harbour View stage.
The band, which started life informally singing together at a barbecue in 2012 and has gone on to play festivals across the country as well as touring Europe and North America – with a freshly announced Australia tour set for May – is now the UK’s most streamed folk act.
is needed now More than ever
They are the first main stage artists to be announced for this year’s Harbour Festival which runs from July 18-20.
The Longest Johns came to popularity when their version of the folk song Wellerman went viral on TikTok in 2021 – photo: The Longest Johns
Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, praised the event: “The Bristol Harbour Festival is a true celebration of the city – its creativity, diversity, and rich musical talent,” he said.
“It’s fantastic to see Bristol artists like the Longest Johns making a global impact and then bringing that success back home to share with festival audiences.”
“Bristol is jam packed full of talent and we’re thrilled to highlight so many local artists through the Made in Bristol programme,” said Noemi Antonelli and Alex Mahoney, directors at Swans Events who are overseeing the festival for the second year running, in collaboration with Proud Events.
“With the support of our local steering group, this year’s Harbour Festival is shaping up to be one of the best yet.”
Sea-faring folk supergroup the Old Time Sailors played the festival’s Harbour View stage last year – photo: Bristol Harbour Festival
Juxtaposing the Bristol artist showcase, the Global Local stage takeover will once again present a diverse range of global acts and world music.
All-female Bhangra group Eternal Taal, electrifying North African folk-trance act Gnawa Blues All Stars will join Antwerp’s tropical beats DJ Hippo and Bristol’s high-energy Brazilian samba experience Bloco B.
The Allergies will close out the night with their full live show, featuring top local musicians James Morton on saxophone, Marietta Smith on vocals and Andy Cooper on MC duty.
Gnawa Blues All Stars will bring their electrifying take on traditional Moroccan music to the festival as part of the Global Local world music takeover – photo: Gnawa Blues All Stars
Many more acts – from music to dance to drag and more – are set to be announced, with stages at Millennium Square, Queen Square, College Green and Thekla, as well as the Fringe programme which brings culture into bars, restaurants and shops in the centre.
Follow instagram.com/bristolharbourfest for more lineup announcements.
Main image: The Longest Johns
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