The UK’s most streamed folk band have been announced as this year’s Bristol Harbour Festival main stage headliner – and they’re from the city. Fresh from touring North America and Europe, The Longest Johns will take to the Harbour View main stage for a homecoming gig that will close the festival on the Sunday night.
Known for reviving the sea shanty tradition and bringing maritime folk music to a global audience, The Longest Johns will be headlining the Made in Bristol showcase on the night. This year’s Bristol Harbour Festival returns from Friday, July 18, to Sunday, July 20, promising a weekend packed full of live music, culture, and community celebrations at the Harbourside.
On Saturday, the Global Local stage takeover will return, celebrating cultural diversity through music. The line-up will feature Eternal Taal, the pioneering all-female Bhangra group that has performed for the Royal Family and at Glastonbury.
Also performing will be Gnawa Blues All Stars, bringing North African trance music infused with jazz and reggae, and DJ Hippo, whose eclectic mixes of tropical beats, hip-hop and jungle will keep the energy high. They will be joined by Bloco B, delivering the rhythms of Rio with high-energy samba, before The Allergies close the night with their signature funk-driven sound. The full band will headline Saturday complete with James Morton on saxophone, Marietta Smith on vocals and Andy Cooper on MC duty.
Organisers say they have been overwhelmed by the response from artists looking to perform. Noemi Antonelli and Alex Mahoney, directors at Swans Events, said: “The number of music applications we received was incredible!
“Bristol is jam-packed full of talent and we’re thrilled to highlight so many local artists through the Made in Bristol programme. With the support of our local steering group, this year’s Harbour Festival is shaping up to be one of the best yet.”
Every year, the Bristol Harbour Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees, and this year looks set to be no different. A key staple in the city’s events calendar, the free festival celebrates Bristol’s maritime heritage through live music, dance and performance.
Councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, said: “The Bristol Harbour Festival is a true celebration of the city – its creativity, diversity, and rich musical talent. 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”
The full line-up and event programme will be announced in the coming months. You can stay up to date on all things Bristol Harbour Festival via its website here.
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