Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends
Review by Carol Waterkeyn

Salty sea-dogs John, Jeremy and Julian Brown, Trevor Grills, John Lethbridge, Billy Hawkins, Peter Rowe, John McDonnell and Jon Cleave form the current line-up of male singers known as the Fisherman’s Friends. Nigel Sherratt also performs on their CD.

The Fisherman’s Friends have been performing in Port Isaac, Cornwall, for more than 15 years and have several former CDs to their credit. But it was quite a surprise for them when in 2010 they were offered a reported £1M recording deal.

Three group members are volunteer RNLI lifeboat shore helpers and one is an ex-RNLI crew member. Another three are skippers of lobster fishing vessels.

Unsurprisingly, the ‘Friends’ often perform in support of the RNLI. In June 2009, their voices rang out for the ceremony of dedication of Port Isaac’s new D class lifeboat, Copeland Bell, while on Friday evenings, they also sing regularly at the harbour.

The group normally performs a cappella. But this latest CD has been produced with musical accompaniment, and is a jolly jaunt into traditional shanty singing. Two of the shanties, namely South Australia and Haul Away Joe, seemed familiar from some longforgotten recesses of my memory.

Music CD
Universal Island Records Ltd
ASIN B003AVMSEM
Price: £16.99