Having first met at the esteemed Oxford University’s Fresher’s week, guitarist Brian Briggs and keyboard player Jon Ouin soon began playing music together and searching for members to join their project. Being the only respondent to the pair’s advertisement for a bass player, Oli Steadman later joined Stornoway’s ranks and subsequently invited his drummer brother Rob Steadman. Stornoway, named after the Scottish town, made their radio debut in March 2006 with their demo “I Saw You Blink” on BBC Oxford Introducing. The demo EP “The Early Adventures of Stornoway” followed shortly afterwards, and due to their popularity among BBC Radio 1 DJs, began a succession of high-profile live appearances.
In 2009 Stornoway played at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Glastonbury Festival, Tate Modern, London, and became the first unsigned band to play on “Later… with Jools Holland” alongside heavyweights Sting, Norah Jones, Jay-Z, and Foo Fighters. As a result of these performances Stornoway’s national exposure skyrocketed leading the band to sign with revered label 4AD in early 2010. Ahead of their full-length debut “Beachcomber’s Windowsill” the band released the official single “I Saw You Blink”. The 2010 studio album debuted at No. 14 on the UK Albums Chart, earned a wave of rave reviews, aided by the popular single “Zorbing”. Following a select number of small shows around Oxford the band embarked on a huge worldwide tour that lasted until late 2011. Upon returning to the UK the band released the EP “4AD Session” in May 2011 recorded at the Rotunda, an abandoned doll’s house museum in Oxford.
In September 2012 Stornoway issued their sophomore album “Tales from Terra Firma” led by the single “Knock Me On the Head”. Peaking at No. 26 on the UK Albums Chart, the album once again received positive reviews and was supported by a worldwide tour. The mini-album “You Don’t Know Anything” arrived in September 2013 surprising fans, before beginning a modest UK tour. Stornoway third full-length album “Bonxie” marked their departure from 4AD, and was entirely crowdfunded. The record earned a plethora of positive reviews from the likes of the Guardian, Uncut, and Q Magazine, and charted at No. 20 on the UK Albums Chart.
The Sheldonian has to be one of the most uncomfortable venues for the audience. The seats are terrible. Stornoway took a song or two to warm up. The audio balance wasn't quite right. I couldn't hear the backing vocals. But they eventually got it right. Some of the songs gave me the chills (in a good way). One made me cry. They didn't really make best use of the orchestra. Sometimes they just did extended intros. Stornoway are at their best when it's simple and sometimes acoustic. They are still one of my favourite live bands. They are best in small and intimate venues. The front man's patter between songs is brilliant.
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