Mostly Autumn

Mostly Autumn are a progressive folk and progressive rock group from York, United Kingdom, active since 1996. Their sound also includes folk rock, celtic rock and hard rock, and they use instruments such as flute, violin, whistles and Uilleann pipes alongside standard rock instrumentation. Their music develops over time, but much of it keeps a strong classic rock character associated with 1970s rock.

History

The band is formed in 1997 by guitarist and vocalist Bryan Josh. The early line-up changes several times, with Heidi Widdop originally on lead vocals before Heather Findlay joins in time for the debut album For All We Shared in 1998, released on Cyclops Records. That album features an eight-piece line-up including Iain Jennings on keyboards, Liam Davidson on rhythm and slide guitars, and violinist Bob Faulds, while Angela Gordon appears as a guest musician before later becoming a full-time member.

Two further albums follow on Cyclops: The Spirit of Autumn Past in 1999 and The Last Bright Light in 2001. By the time of the latter, Bob Faulds has left and bassist Andy Smith has joined. These early releases lean strongly towards folk-rock and celtic rock, with instrumental jigs alongside longer, atmospheric pieces influenced by bands such as Pink Floyd.

Later releases and changes in direction

Mostly Autumn then sign to Classic Rock Legends. Their first release for the label, the largely instrumental Music Inspired by Lord of the Rings in 2001, is followed by Passengers in 2003, generally treated as their proper fourth studio album. This record marks a move towards polished melodic rock, with the folk and celtic elements reduced, a direction continued on Storms Over Still Water. During this period they also release live albums and the retrospective Catch the Spirit, which re-records songs largely from the three Cyclops albums.

In 2006 the band begin self-releasing albums funded by fan pre-orders. That year also sees Iain Jennings leave to focus on Breathing Space, with Chris Johnson joining on multi-instrumental duties. Heart Full of Sky, the first self-released album, presents a wide mix of styles. Chris Johnson leaves at the end of 2007, and Glass Shadows in 2008 is made by a core creative duo of Bryan Josh and Heather Findlay. The following tour brings further changes, with Angela Gordon leaving and Anne-Marie Helder taking over flute and keyboards, while Iain Jennings and Liam Davidson return.

Live work and recent line-up

In 2009 the band issue Live 2009 - Part I and Live 2009 - Part II, along with the remastered three-disc retrospective Pass the Clock. Heather Findlay leaves in 2010 to pursue a solo career, and her final performance with the band is filmed for That Night In Leamington. Olivia Sparnenn, who has sung backing vocals with the band since 2005 and fronts Breathing Space, takes over lead vocals, and the band’s first live appearance with her in that role follows in April 2010.

Their ninth studio album, Go Well Diamond Heart, is funded by fan pre-order and released in 2010 with Olivia on lead vocals. The live album Still Beautiful follows in 2011, recorded on the spring tour. The band’s line-up includes Bryan Josh, Olivia Sparnenn, Angela Gordon, Iain Jennings, Andy Smith and Gavin Griffiths, with former members including Heather Findlay, Liam Davison, Anne-Marie Helder, Chris Johnson, Stuart Carver, Bob Faulds, Kev Gibbons and several drummers.

Members and collaborators

Current members associated with the group include Bryan Josh, Iain Jennings, Liam Davison, Heather Findlay, Olivia Sparnenn-Josh, Anne-Marie Helder, Angela Gordon and Chris Johnson, alongside Andy Smith and Gavin Griffiths in the line-up listed in the biography. Guest musicians named in connection with the band include Ben Matthews of Thunder, Troy Donockley, Rachel Jones, Chris Leslie, Marcus Bousefield, Marissa Claughan, Peter Knight and David Moore.