Ten years on from their silver selling album “Beachcomber’s Windowsill”, Stornoway (interviewed here) today announce the release of their live album “The Farewell Show” – a recording of their final joyous gig at New Theatre, Oxford in March 2017. The album is out 17th July 2020 on Cooking Vinyl Records.
Having initially formed in Oxford in 2005, Stornoway have had a stellar career, full of landmark moments. In November 2009 they became the first unsigned band to appear on Later… With Jools Holland, performing alongside Sting, Jay – Z and Foo Fighters. In April 2010 they signed their record deal with taste-making indie label 4AD and, in the town of Stornoway, they played a landmark gig on their first visit to the location that gave them their name. They went on to perform worldwide, including appearances at the Barbican, the main stages of Glastonbury, Latitude and Isle of Wight festivals. After three albums, a mini-album, four EPs and more than ten years of touring, the band were ready for new horizons, and set off on their farewell tour in the spring of 2017, culminating in a sold-out hometown gig at Oxford’s New Theatre on March 12th.
“We have achieved far more as a band than we ever dared to dream back as students in a drafty east Oxford garage and we are immensely proud of the music we have created together.
We are eternally grateful to all our wonderful fans and friends who have given us so much support throughout our career.”
This live album offers an uplifting introduction to the diverse music of Stornoway and a parting gift for all those who followed and supported the band over the years. Featuring heartfelt performances of time-honoured favourites from all three Stornoway albums – “Beachcomber’s Windowsill” (2010), “Tales from Terra Firma” (2013) and “Bonxie” (2015). It turned out to be more than just a live gig: it was an emotional, celebratory farewell party – a perfectly-preserved time capsule for fans and newcomers to Stornoway to experience.
The band have chosen three songs from the album which will be given away during the build-up to the release: “Fuel Up”, “You Take Me As I Am”, and “(A Belated) Invite to Eternity”.
“We wanted to put out “Fuel Up” first, because it is a favourite of both ours and our fans, and an uplifting song which we hope will provide some comfort during this strange time. “You Take Me As I Am” is a big, joyous song featuring our musician friends Tom Hodgson and Adam Briggs on trumpets, which we feel captures the mood of the night perfectly. “(A Belated) Invite to Eternity” is a powerful performance of a song which we are particularly proud of, and features stunning violin performances by Rahul Satija and Susie Attwood.”
“The Farewell Show” was beautifully recorded and mixed on state of the art equipment by Oli Jacobs from Peter Gabriel’s world-renowned Real World Studios, who was at the New Theatre to capture these twelve emotionally charged performances and the celebratory atmosphere of Stornoway’s final concert:
“There’s something different about listening to a live record. We feel part of something even though we aren’t there. Maybe it’s because we know it’s all been captured as one take – mistakes and all – and there are no second chances, particularly when it’s the band’s farewell show.”
ALBUM TRACKLISTING
The Coldharbour Road
Between the Saltmarsh and the Sea
You Take Me As I Am
(A Belated) Invite to Eternity
Fuel Up
November Song
Get Low
Josephine
Farewell Appalachia
I Saw You Blink
The Great Procrastinator
Zorbing
The album is out 17th July 2020 on Cooking Vinyl Records.
Pre-Order/Save the album here: https://stornoway.lnk.to/TFS