Stornoway

What kind of folkery is this?

Don't let the name deceive you. After all, the Thompson Twins were a three-piece and none of Frank Zappa's Mothers Of Invention ever bore children. Similarly, while their name invokes Arran sweaters and choppy seas, this young quartet (often plumped up to a round half-dozen for their live excursions) actually hail from several hundred miles south of the Hebridean town, their home being the decidedly inland city of Oxford. Utilizing a range of instruments that have no need for a mains supply, Stornoway are among the fresh-faced frontrunners of the current wave of largely acoustic bands, those where the lightness and whimsy of folk gets mobilised by a strong injection of indie propulsion. Melody is king here, ensuring that anyone within earshot will only have favourable words to say. Fans of Mumford And Sons and Noah & The Whale should form an orderly queue.

(Biography by Nige Tassell 2010)