The first time I ever saw Stornoway, I think, was at Truck Festival in 2007. They captured my attention with lead singer Brian's talk of wildlife facts, a song called "The Good Fish Guide" that listed many species of fish and, most crucially, with beautiful, sometimes melancholic indie folk melodies.
Sat with friends to the edge of the stage in a semi circle of camping chairs I was inspired to get up and get closer to the band, and when they were joined by a pantomime horse head wearing Trumpet player for the finale I was in love.
At the time I worked in Oxford and was lucky enough to see them a few times in their formative years. Then, famously, they became the first ever unsigned band to play on Later...with Jools Holland, exposing the watching public to the beautiful "Fuel Up". They didn't stay unsigned for very long.
It was onwards and upwards from then on, with critically acclaimed albums and a growing fanbase that didn't quite reach the heights of being able to headline Glastonbury (as their fellow indie folksters and inferiors Mumford and Sons did), but gave them a solid following. As they grew they lost some of that early quirkiness, but they never compromised in their songwriting, releasing a cappella songs in harmony alongside more traditionally arranged songs with instruments long before any trend for "sea shanties".
After announcing a farewell tour in 2016 they performed their last ever gig at Oxford New Theatre in March 2017, a gig I was lucky enough to be at. Enthralling and perfect, the performance was far more celebratory than sad as the band bowed up at the top of their game having achieved more than they could ever have imagined possible, though not as much as they deserved.
And then, at Truck Festival 2022, they resurfaced on Saturday night to headline The Veterans and Virgins stage, a performance I was, again, lucky enough to be at. Billed as "special guests" in the run up to the festival I was ecstatic when I found out those guests were in fact Stornoway, playing in public for the first time for 5 years. Over on the main stage Sam Fender didn't stand a chance of my patronage.
Now they're back, better than ever, and with a new album "Dig The Mountain" that's both brilliant and they're highest charting album yet.
I'm lucky enough to have seen Stornoway many times over the years, in many different sizes of venue. Every time they've been special and that was underlined most recently a month or so ago at Oxford Town Hall, where they pressed the Hall's organ into action for a rousing "Excelsior" complete with backing choir.
If you haven't heard any of their music yet my advice is to rectify that as quickly as possible. They are a treat whatever the mood or stage of life.