Fisherman’s Friends
Friends Over Fame
Home is where the heart is
There must be something in the water in Port Isaac. The pretty traditional fishing village and its inhabitants seem to attract a fair share of fame and fortune.
The recent release of the film ‘Fisherman’s Friends,’ is based on a true story and tells the unlikely tale of how a fast living city music executive gets duped into signing Port Isaac’s local sea shanty band whilst on a stag weekend in the north Cornwall village.
The band ultimately went on to have a Top 10 best selling album and have since sang for HM The Queen, at numerous folk festivals, BBC Proms in the Park and even on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. However, it’s the friendship and loyalty of the band and the close community support and spirit of Port Isaac that really draws people in.
Albums
Sea shanties are a way of life in Cornwall but do they really make a Gold selling album? Apparently so for a group of unlikely singers from Port Isaac on Cornwall’s north coast. To date, their albums include:
- Suck’em and Sea (2000)
- Another Mouthful From … The Fisherman’s Friends (2009)
- Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends (2010)
- One and All (2013)
- Proper Job (2015)
- Sole Mates (2018)
- Keep Hauling – Music from the Movie (2019)
Credit: Chris Hewitt
The Fisherman’s Friends still have day jobs. Fisherman Jason Nicholas, builder John McDonnell, smallholder John ‘Left’ Lethbridge, film maker Toby Lobb, writer and MC John Cleave, brothers John and Jeremy Brown and Billy Hawkins can all be found working in north Cornwall.
The film stars Daniel Mays, Tuppence Middleton and James Purefoy with support from David Hayman, Dave Johns, Noel Clarke, Maggie Steed, Christian Brassington and Sam Swainsbury. The ‘real’ Fisherman’s Friends acted as consultants.
Filming took place in April 2018 in Port Isaac, Cornwall and London. Port Isaac also doubles as ‘Portwenn’ in TV’s ‘Doc Martin.’ Filming for the ninth Doc Martin series started this week! Find out more about Cornwall’s famous film locations >>.
