The Factory Theatre became a raucous seaside tavern on Monday night as The Longest Johns finally docked in Sydney for a singalong of legendary proportions.
The Bristol-based sea shanty revivalists The Longest Johns brought their full crew and full charm for their long-awaited Australian voyage, turning the Factory into a foot-stomping haven of harmonies, history, and hilarity.
From the first notes of The Llandoger, the crowd was in it – voices raised, mugs metaphorically (and in some cases, literally) in the air. Dressed like the merry rogues they are, the band wasted no time diving into deep folk cuts like Byker Hill and Ye Mariners All, their four-part vocals soaring over drums, fiddles, and the unexpected percussive brilliance of a stool and wheelbarrow.
The Mary Ellen Carter and Hammer and the Anvil hit like old tales passed down through time, while Bones in the Ocean and Mutiny added emotional heft that quieted the crowd, just long enough to catch a breath.
But make no mistake – this night was a party. Santiana, Randy Dandy-O, and Beer is Great had the floorboards shaking with stomped-out rhythm, while What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor? brought the kind of chaotic, beer-soaked energy you’d expect from the bowels of a ship rolling through a storm.
Even when a brief medical pause halted The Worker’s Song, the band handled it with warmth and grace, breaking character to ensure the crowd stayed calm – and then diving right back into the shanty storm once all was well.
With Wellerman and Leaving of Liverpool nearly lifting the roof, The Longest Johns closed the night with an encore of Ashes and Hoist Up The Thing, sending the room off with one final thunderous chorus.
There was laughter. There was lore. There were sea shanties sung louder than some rock gigs.
The Longest Johns didn’t just perform – they transported the crowd to another time entirely.
Check out the full gallery below, with photos by Sandra Welch.
The Longest Johns at Factory Theatre Gallery
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