Mostly Autumn
Encyclopedia
Mostly Autumn is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 band, producing music heavily influenced by classic 1970s rock. The group formed in 1996, and have built their reputation through constant touring, never signing to a major label. The group's early influences were Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...

, Renaissance
Renaissance (band)
Renaissance are an English progressive rock band, most notable for their 1978 UK top 10 hit "Northern Lights" and progressive rock classics like "Carpet of the Sun", "Mother Russia" and "Ashes Are Burning".-Original incarnation :...

 and Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

, and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....

. Later albums also included more contemporary influences.

History

Mostly Autumn was formed in the late 1990s. The line-up that recorded their first album For All We Shared... in 1998 was Bryan Josh
Bryan Josh
Bryan Josh is a multi-instrumentalist who is the founder of British progressive rock band Mostly Autumn. While primarily being the band's lead singer and lead guitarist, he has performed on many other instruments in the studio, which include the bass guitar, piano and keyboards...

, Heather Findlay (who had replaced founding member Heidi Widdop), Iain Jennings, Liam Davison, Bob Faulds, Stuart Carver, Kev Gibbons and Allan Scott. On their second album The Spirit of Autumn Past
The Spirit of Autumn Past
The Spirit of Autumn Past is the 2nd album by rock band Mostly Autumn. It is the only Mostly Autumn album to feature drummer Rob McNeil. It is the last album to feature violinist Bob Faulds and bassist Stuart Carver but the first to feature Angela Goldthorpe as a full member of the band. Also, this...

, Allan Scott and Kev Gibbons were replaced by Rob McNeil and Angela Gordon respectively.

In 2000 (as a three piece - Bryan, Heather and Angela Goldthorpe) they achieved a support slot for Blackmore's Night
Blackmore's Night
Blackmore's Night is an English-American traditional folk rock duo led by Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night .-Early:...

 on their Under a Violet Moon
Under a Violet Moon
Under a Violet Moon is a Blackmore's Night's second album released in May 25, 1999 through Edel Music. Under a Violet Moon won the New Age Voice award for the best vocal album of the year.-Track listing:...

tour, bringing them to a wider audience. On the cover artwork for the following Blackmore's Night album Fires at Midnight
Fires at Midnight
Fires at Midnight is a Blackmore's Night's third studio album released on July 10, 2001 through SPV/Steamhammer. In comparison with their previous two releases, there are more electric guitar parts on this album, whilst maintaining a folk rock direction...

, Heather Findlay provided the illustration for the song "Hanging Tree".

On Mostly Autumn's third album (The Last Bright Light
The Last Bright Light
The Last Bright Light is the 3rd studio album by rock band Mostly Autumn. It is the first album to feature drummer Jonathon Blackmore and bassist Andy Smith...

, 2001), Rob McNeil in turn was replaced by Jonathan Blackmore (not related to Ritchie
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...

). Andy Smith replaced Stuart Carver on the bass guitar.

In 2004, shortly before the band's 'V Shows' tour, Iain's brother, Andrew Jennings, took over on drums and percussion. By this time, the band had been praised by Rick Wright of Pink Floyd.

Olivia Sparnenn joined the band in 2005 to provide additional backing vocals. Ben Matthews
Ben Matthews
Ben Matthews was the guitarist and keyboard player with the hard rock band Thunder. He is also an experienced studio engineer and mixer; he worked with progressive rock act Mostly Autumn as studio engineer on their 2005 album Storms Over Still Water. He also guested on their 2006 live album...

 of Thunder
Thunder (band)
Thunder were an English hard rock band, who originally formed in 1989 when the band Terraplane broke up, leaving lead singer Danny Bowes and guitarist/main songwriter Luke Morley to form a new group, namely Thunder...

 stood in on keyboards for Mostly Autumn's headline gig at the Baja Prog Festival
Baja Prog
Baja Prog is an annual progressive rock festival in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, held since 1997. It draws a number of well-known bands in the genre, and an average of 1500 attendees each day.-External links:* * *...

 in Mexico in March 2006. Chris Johnson was then recruited as a permanent replacement, with Angela Gordon (formerly Goldthorpe) also taking a more prominent role on keyboards.

At the beginning of 2007 both guitarist Liam Davison and drummer Andrew Jennings left the band, Liam to concentrate on his solo album and Andrew to devote his time to his other projects. The guitar parts were shared out amongst the rest of the group. Ex-Karnataka
Karnataka (band)
The Welsh progressive rock band Karnataka were formed in 1997 by founding members Ian Jones , Rachel Jones and Jonathan Edwards...

 drummer Gavin Griffiths stood in on drums for most of the 2007 live shows, Andrew Jennings temporarily rejoined the group at the end of 2007, until Henry Bourne took over in 2008. Gavin Griffiths returned for the first shows of 2009 in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

 and London.

After Chris Johnson and Angela Gordon left in 2007, Iain Jennings and Liam Davison returned to the group on keyboards and guitar respectively. Anne-Marie Helder
Anne-Marie Helder
Anne-Marie Helder is a British singer-songwriter who has performed throughout the UK since 2000, beginning with bands and then going solo in 2004. Her debut EP The Contact was released in November 2004, securing her airplay on BBC Radio 2, with Bob Harris declaring: "that is very dramatic music"....

, who had played support slots in the past and stood in for Angela during her pregnancy, took over the role of flute, keyboards and backing vocals.

A new studio album, entitled Glass Shadows
Glass Shadows
Glass Shadows is the eighth studio album by the band Mostly Autumn. The writing of the album saw band members Heather and Bryan retreating to the Lake District, apparently inspiring a more organic sound for the new songs, harking back to the band's earlier material...

was released in 2008 and an accompanying tour took place in spring and early summer 2008. A 100-minute DVD, 'The Making Of Glass Shadows', accompanied the special pre-order version of the album.

During October 2008 Mostly Autumn performed two gigs with an alternative, semi-acoustic line-up in support of the Bad Shepherds. The line-up consisted of Bryan Josh
Bryan Josh
Bryan Josh is a multi-instrumentalist who is the founder of British progressive rock band Mostly Autumn. While primarily being the band's lead singer and lead guitarist, he has performed on many other instruments in the studio, which include the bass guitar, piano and keyboards...

 (guitar and vocals), Olivia Sparnenn (lead vocals), Andy Smith (bass), Anne-Marie Helder (keyboards and flute) and Robbie Baxter (drums). This tour was truncated after the Bad Shepherds cancelled many dates.

Mostly Autumn have their own independent record label and choose to finance each album release itself. The group typically prints a limited edition of each album, and sells those to cover their recording costs. A retail version of the album is then made available via retail outlets, distributors, the group's concerts and through their website.

Up to and including Heart Full Of Sky
Heart Full of Sky
Heart Full of Sky is the 7th studio album from rock artists Mostly Autumn released in 2006. The limited edition double CD version was only available via , whereas the single CD version is available as a general release. This is the only Mostly Autumn album to feature multi-instrumentalist Chris...

Mostly Autumn's albums have opened with the last few seconds of the final song on the previous album. This tradition was dropped with the release of Glass Shadows
Glass Shadows
Glass Shadows is the eighth studio album by the band Mostly Autumn. The writing of the album saw band members Heather and Bryan retreating to the Lake District, apparently inspiring a more organic sound for the new songs, harking back to the band's earlier material...

.

At the beginning of 2010, Heather Findlay announced her intention to leave the band to focus on solo work and her family. She performed her last gig with the band at Leamington Spa Assembly on 2 April 2010. She was replaced by former backing singer and Breathing Space lead vocalist Olivia Sparnenn. Findlay's last gig with the band was on 2 April 2010 and was filmed. This film was released as a 2-disc DVD under the name That Night In Leamington
That Night In Leamington
That Night in Leamington is a DVD released by British progressive rock band Mostly Autumn. It was filmed at the Assembly Rooms in Leamington Spa on 2nd April 2010 to celebrate long-time vocalist Heather Findlay's period with the band...

which also included a 30 minute interview with Josh and Findlay.

In October 2010, the band's first album without Findlay, Go Well Diamond Heart
Go Well Diamond Heart
Go Well Diamond Heart is the ninth studio album by British progressive rock band Mostly Autumn. It is significant in the respect that it is the first album by the band not to feature long time lead vocalist and songwriter Heather Findlay who departed from the band in early 2010 to start a solo career...

was released.

Side-projects

Heather Findlay contributed to Arjen Lucassen's 'Ayreon
Ayreon
Ayreon is a project by Dutch composer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen.Ayreon's musical style derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but combines them with genres like folk, classical and electronica...

' project on The Human Equation
The Human Equation
The Human Equation is the sixth album by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released under the name Ayreon. It was released on May 25, 2004. As with other Ayreon albums, it features guest appearances from several musicians previously unrelated to the project, including James LaBrie of Dream Theater, Mikael...

album in 2004, singing the part of 'Love'.

Iain Jennings left the band at the beginning of 2006 to pursue his own musical ambitions and formed his own band, Breathing Space
Breathing Space (band)
Breathing Space are a band formed in 2006 by Mostly Autumn keyboardist Iain Jennings. Some of the members had played on his solo album and formed a band to tour this record. They became a full-time band in 2007 when they released their first album as a band...

, as well as contributing to projects by other artists. He recruited then-Mostly Autumn backing vocalist Olivia Sparnenn to sing lead vocals and the pair, along with various other musicians recorded three different albums. Despite his return to the Mostly Autumn fold in 2008, Iain still remains a member and core song-writer in Breathing Space. In April 2010, Sparnenn took over lead vocals in Mostly Autumn so decided to stop working with Breathing Space. Breathing Space continued on with Heidi Widdop taking over on vocals.

During 2005 Heather Findlay and Angela Gordon formed an acoustic side project called Odin Dragonfly, making live appearances both as a support act and as headliners. In August 2007 they released their first album, Offerings.

Both Anne-Marie Helder and Gavin Griffiths are members of Panic Room
Panic Room (Band)
Panic Room is a Welsh band made up of former Karnataka members Jonathan Edwards, Gavin Griffiths, Paul Davies and Anne-Marie Helder with Alun Vaughan on bass guitar....

.

Current lineup

  • Bryan Josh
    Bryan Josh
    Bryan Josh is a multi-instrumentalist who is the founder of British progressive rock band Mostly Autumn. While primarily being the band's lead singer and lead guitarist, he has performed on many other instruments in the studio, which include the bass guitar, piano and keyboards...

    – Lead/Backing Vocals; Lead/Rhythm/Acoustic/12 String Guitars; Keyboards; Piano (1996–Present)
  • Iain Jennings – Keyboards; Piano (1996–2005, 2008–Present)
  • Liam Davison – Rhythm/Acoustic/12 String Guitars; Slide Guitars; Backing Vocals (1996–2007, 2008–Present)
  • Andy Smith – Bass Guitars (2000–Present)
  • Anne-Marie Helder
    Anne-Marie Helder
    Anne-Marie Helder is a British singer-songwriter who has performed throughout the UK since 2000, beginning with bands and then going solo in 2004. Her debut EP The Contact was released in November 2004, securing her airplay on BBC Radio 2, with Bob Harris declaring: "that is very dramatic music"....

     – Flutes; Keyboards; Piano; Acoustic Guitars; Recorders; Backing Vocals; Percussion (2007–Present)
  • Gavin Griffiths – Drums (2007, 2009–Present)
  • Olivia Sparnenn – Lead/Backing Vocals; Acoustic Guitars; Percussion (2010–Present); Backing Vocals (2005–2010)

Former members

  • Heidi Widdop – Lead/Backing Vocals (1996)
  • Stuart Carver – Bass Guitars (1996–2000)
  • Bob Faulds – Violins (1996–2000)
  • Kev Gibbons – High/Low Whistles (1996–1998)
  • Allan Scott – Drums (1996–1998)
  • Heather Findlay – Lead/Backing Vocals; Acoustic/12 String Guitars; Piano; Recorders; Percussion (1997–2010)
  • Rob McNeil – Drums (1998–2000)
  • Angela Gordon – Flutes; Keyboards; Piano; Recorders; High/Low Whistles; Backing Vocals; Percussion (1999–2007)
  • Jonathan Blackmore – Drums (2000–2003)
  • Andrew Jennings – Drums (2004–2006, 2007)
  • Chris Johnson – Keyboards; Piano; Rhythm/Acoustic Guitars; Backing Vocals (2005–2007)
  • Henry Bourne – Drums (2008)

Membership Timeline

Year Male Lead Vocals Female Lead Vocals Lead Guitars Rhythm Guitars Keyboards Bass Drums Flutes/Whistles Violins Backing Vocals
1996 Bryan Josh Heidi Widdop Bryan Josh Liam Davison Iain Jennings Stuart Carver Allan Scott Kev Gibbons Bob Faulds
1997–1998 Heather Findlay
1999–2000 Rob McNeil Angela Gordon
2000–2003 Bryan Josh, Liam Davison Andy Smith Jonathan Blackmore
2004–2006 Bryan Josh Andrew Jennings
2006–2007 Bryan Josh, Chris Johnson Chris Johnson Olivia Sparnenn
2007 Bryan Josh Gavin Griffiths
2007 Andrew Jennings
2008 Henry Bourne Anne-Marie Helder
2008 Liam Davison Iain Jennings
2009–2010 Gavin Griffiths
2010–present Olivia Sparnenn Anne-Marie Helder

Albums

  • For All We Shared...
    For All We Shared...
    For All We Shared... is the debut album by the band Mostly Autumn. It is the only Mostly Autumn album to feature Allan Scott on drums and Kev Gibbons on whistles.-Track listing:# "Nowhere to Hide " – 6:12...

    (1998)
  • The Spirit of Autumn Past
    The Spirit of Autumn Past
    The Spirit of Autumn Past is the 2nd album by rock band Mostly Autumn. It is the only Mostly Autumn album to feature drummer Rob McNeil. It is the last album to feature violinist Bob Faulds and bassist Stuart Carver but the first to feature Angela Goldthorpe as a full member of the band. Also, this...

    (1999)
  • The Last Bright Light
    The Last Bright Light
    The Last Bright Light is the 3rd studio album by rock band Mostly Autumn. It is the first album to feature drummer Jonathon Blackmore and bassist Andy Smith...

    (2001)
  • Music Inspired by The Lord of the Rings (2001)
  • Passengers (2003)
  • Storms Over Still Water
    Storms Over Still Water
    Storms Over Still Water is the 5th studio album from rock band Mostly Autumn. It is the first Mostly Autumn studio album to feature drummer Andrew Jennings who is the brother of keyboard player Iain Jennings although he can be seen on The V Shows and Pink Floyd Revisited DVDs...

    (2005)
  • Heart Full of Sky
    Heart Full of Sky
    Heart Full of Sky is the 7th studio album from rock artists Mostly Autumn released in 2006. The limited edition double CD version was only available via , whereas the single CD version is available as a general release. This is the only Mostly Autumn album to feature multi-instrumentalist Chris...

    (2006)
  • Glass Shadows
    Glass Shadows
    Glass Shadows is the eighth studio album by the band Mostly Autumn. The writing of the album saw band members Heather and Bryan retreating to the Lake District, apparently inspiring a more organic sound for the new songs, harking back to the band's earlier material...

    (2008)
  • Go Well Diamond Heart
    Go Well Diamond Heart
    Go Well Diamond Heart is the ninth studio album by British progressive rock band Mostly Autumn. It is significant in the respect that it is the first album by the band not to feature long time lead vocalist and songwriter Heather Findlay who departed from the band in early 2010 to start a solo career...

    (2010)

Anthologies

  • Heroes Never Die - The Anthology (2002, deleted)
  • Catch The Spirit - The Complete Anthology
    Catch The Spirit - The Complete Anthology
    Catch the Spirit is a compilation album released by rock band Mostly Autumn in 2002. This replaced the previous anthology Heroes Never Die and provides an introduction to the band using re-recorded material from their first four studio albums....

    (2002)
  • Pass the Clock
    Pass the Clock
    Pass the Clock is a 3 disc compilation album by British progressive rock band Mostly Autumn. It was released in 2009 to celebrate 10 years of the band by remastering material from all of their 8 studio albums and 1 EP. Each disc contains songs that fit well together and produce different moods...

    (2009)

EPs and singles

  • Goodbye Alone (2001)
  • Prints in the Stone
    Prints In The Stone
    -Track listing:#"Prints in the Stone" * – 4:47#"We Come and We Go" – 4:39#"Heroes Never Die" – – 8:27-Personnel:* Jonathan Blackmor – drums* Liam Davison – 6 & 12 string acoustic & slide guitars, vocals...

    (2001)
  • Spirits of Christmas Past
    Spirits of Christmas Past
    Spirits of Christmas Past is a Christmas EP released in 2005 by rock band Mostly Autumn.-Track listing:# "Spirits of Christmas Past" – 5:14# "Winter Is King" – 5:24# "Merry Christmas Everybody" – 3:39...

    (2005)
  • A Different Sky
    A Different Sky
    A Different Sky is a download only single/EP released by rock band Mostly Autumn. The three tracks can all be found on their 8th studio album Glass Shadows.-Track listing:#"A Different Sky" #"Flowers for Guns"...

    (2008)

Live albums

  • The Story So Far...
    The Story So Far...(Mostly Autumn album)
    The Story So Far... is a live album recorded and released in 2001 by rock band Mostly Autumn. It was also released on VHS but both formats have been discontinued by the band...

    (CD and VHS 2001)
  • Live In The USA
    Live in the USA
    Live in the USA is a live album recorded October 2002 and released in 2003 by rock band Mostly Autumn.-Track listing:#"Nowhere to Hide" – 5:14#"The Spirit of Autumn Past" – 6:54...

    (CD 2003)
  • The Fiddler's Shindig (CD 2003, DVD 2005)
  • Live At The Canterbury Fayre (CD 2003)
  • Live at the Grand Opera House (CD & DVD 2003)
  • The Next Chapter
    The Next Chapter (Mostly Autumn album)
    The Next Chapter is a live album/DVD consisting of live performances around the world, interview snippets and studio recordings such as "Forge of Sauron", by progressive rock band Mostly Autumn...

    (DVD 2003)
  • The V Shows
    The V Shows
    The V Shows is a live album/DVD recorded at the London Astoria by rock band Mostly Autumn. It was recorded on the tour supporting their 2003 release Passengers. The DVD for this show was also included in their 2005 DVD release Pink Floyd Revisited...

    (DVD 2004, CD 2005)
  • Pink Floyd Revisited
    Pink Floyd Revisited
    Pink Floyd Revisited is a live DVD recorded by rock band Mostly Autumn in 2004. This was a recording of a one-off concert at the Civic Hall in Stratford-Upon-Avon where they played a whole set of Pink Floyd covers. It was only available for a limited period of time and has become quite sought after...

    (DVD 2004)
  • Storms Over London Town
    Storms Over London Town
    Storms Over London Town is a live album released in 2006 by rock band Mostly Autumn. It was recorded on the Storms Over Still Water album launch at the London Astoria in 2005...

    (CD 2006)
  • Live 2009
    Live 2009 (Mostly Autumn album)
    Live 2009 is a live album recorded at many concerts throughout 2009 by British progressive rock band Mostly Autumn. It was released in two installments, Part I and Part II, but the two discs together make up one whole Mostly Autumn concert typical of the setlist on their 2009 spring tour.Despite...

    (CD 2009)
  • That Night In Leamington
    That Night In Leamington
    That Night in Leamington is a DVD released by British progressive rock band Mostly Autumn. It was filmed at the Assembly Rooms in Leamington Spa on 2nd April 2010 to celebrate long-time vocalist Heather Findlay's period with the band...

    (CD & DVD 2010)
  • Still Beautiful Live 2011 (CD 2011)

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK