MFF2027: The Wellermen

Plus support from Quincey May Brown. Part of Manchester Folk Festival 2027. The Wellermen are a global folk group, formed during the early TikTok "sea shanty" boom of 2021, yet they had never met in person until their debut live show in June 2023. Blending American and UK backgrounds, they quickly united over a shared passion for maritime harmony & storytelling, propelling them into viral fame. What began as a group of friends singing for the love of it exploded into a wave of international stardom, transforming them into one of the most recognisable folk acts of the digital age. Marked by her distinctively tender vocals, acerbically playful lyrics and harp-propelled textural arrangements, DIY musician Quincey May Brown is a singular force. Raised in Northamptonshire and now based in Manchester, her songwriting has been praised for its depth and subtle humour. Following the release of her debut album, Basic Surgeon, the new album expands on Quincey May Brown’s intoxicating exploration of both organic and non-organic sounds in unexpected ways. Quincey leans away from folk conventions, instead creating a world of strings, drones and woodwind, dancing to the beat of its own off-kilter drum. Careful, Pockets is a collection of stories on loss, human nature and childhood scrapes.