The Fisherman’s Friends announce their very first Australian tour from January 2026.
The Fisherman’s Friends – the beloved folk group from Cornwall made famous from the films of the same name – will be in Australia for the very first time as they bring their rousing sea shanties and seafaring spirit to cities across the country.
On the back of a sold out show at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, London and another run of sold out UK shows, the multi-million selling shanty band are finally making their way to Australia, realising a lifelong dream to bring their show to our distant shores.
Tickets on sale now via https://akaaustralia.com.au/fishermans-friends/
Wednesday 7 January Adelaide, SA Thebarton Theatre
Thursday 8 January Brunswick, VIC Brunswick Ballroom
Friday 9 January Geelong, VIC Costa Hall
Saturday 10 January St Kilda, VIC Palais Theatre
Sunday 11 January Frankston, VIC Frankston Arts Centre
Tuesday 13 January Hobart, TAS Wrestpoint Casino, Tasman Room
Thursday 15 January Canberra, ACT Llewellyn Hall
Saturday 17 January Blue Mountains, NSW Blue Mountains Theatre
Sunday 18 January Sydney, NSW State Theatre
Tuesday 20 January Newcastle, NSW Civic Theatre
Wednesday 21 January Gold Coast, QLD Star Theatre
Thursday 22 January Caloundra, QLD The Events Centre – King’s Theatre
Friday 23 January Brisbane, QLD Brisbane Powerhouse
Sunday 25 January Perth, WA Riverside Theatre
“We’ve been singing sea shanties and work songs about, from and inspired by Australia for as long as we’ve been a band. Our part of the world has a strong connection to Australia – Cornish people have migrated there for more than 200 years – and I’m told there’s even folk down there who speak Kernewek like natives. So, at long last, to be able to perform there is a dream come true if I’m honest.” – John Cleeves
The Fisherman’s Friends hail from the picturesque fishing village of Port Isaac — familiar to many as the setting for the hit TV series Doc Martin. The group came together in 1995 and is made up of local fisherman, lifeboatmen and coastguards. Inspired by their surroundings and the traditional songs of their region, this rag-tag collection of locals went on to become a global singing sensation. In 2010 they signed a major record deal and in 2019 their story inspired the box office hit film Fisherman’s Friends. A sequel followed in 2022.
The Fisherman’s Friends are lobster fisherman Jeremy Brown, author and shopkeeper Jon Cleave, smallholder and engineer John ‘Lefty’ Lethbridge, builder John McDonnell (a Yorkshireman who visited Port Isaac more than 30 years ago and never left), Padstow fisherman Jason Nicholas, filmmaker Toby Lobb and electrician Simon Biddick.
On tour, The Fisherman’s Friends trawl a repertoire of more than 200 sea shanties and maritime work songs accompanied by their musician mates, Marcus Bonfanti and Simon Johnson, playing a collection of instruments including bass, banjo, mandolin and resonator guitar.
Audiences will be singing along at full voice to traditional shanties and stirring originals such as “No Hopers, Jokers & Rogues,” “John Kanaka,” and “Sailor Ain’t a Sailor.” One of their most popular songs in Australia is sure to be South Australia. First recorded by The Fisherman’s Friends for their breakthrough album, 2010’s top ten hit Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends, its popularity grew further when it was included in the Fisherman’s Friends 2019 movie.
Over the last year the Fisherman’s Friends have topped 13.5 million Spotify streams with over 170,000 monthly listeners and 121,000 Facebook followers. As well as two hit movies, they have ten albums to their name, a much-loved stage musical, a BBC Folk Award, a best-selling book, TV documentary and prestigious performances from The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury to Hyde Park Proms in the Park and 80,000 rugby fans at Twickenham… all while holding down day jobs in Port Issac.
“Singing live is where we belong!. It’s all about sharing the songs we love with the people we love to see, our wonderful audiences, and we can’t wait to meet our fans Down Under. Haul away!” – Jeremy Brown
https://thefishermansfriends.com
Presented by Andrew Kay
Fisherman’s Friends 2026 Australian tour
Tickets on sale now via https://akaaustralia.com.au/fishermans-friends/
BAND BIOS AND HIGH RES IMAGES AVAILABLE HERE
media enquiries: Tatiana Marchant | Estellar PR
+61 410 655 020 | tatiana@estellar.com.au
