Mostly Autumn

Mostly Autumn
Origin	England
Genres	Progressive rock[1][2][3] Celtic[1][2] hard rock[1] folk rock
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Cyclops, Classic Rock, Mostly Autumn, Dejavu Retro
Associated acts	Breathing Space Cloud Atlas Karnataka Odin Dragonfly Panic Room
Website	www.mostly-autumn.com
Members	Bryan Josh Iain Jennings Andy Smith Olivia Sparnenn Chris Johnson Anne-Marie Helder Alex Cromerty
Past members	Liam Davison Bob Faulds Kev Gibbons Heidi Widdop Alun Hughes Chris Walton Stuart Carver Allan Scott Heather Findlay Angela Gordon Rob McNeil Jonathan Blackmore Andrew Jennings Henry Bourne Robbie Baxter Gavin Griffiths

Mostly Autumn are an English rock band. The group formed in 1995 and have built their reputation through constant touring,^[4][5][6] never signing to a major label. They produce music heavily influenced by 1970s progressive rock. According to the BBC, Mostly Autumn "fuse the music of Genesis and Pink Floyd with Celtic themes, hard rock and strong, emotional melodies".^[1] They have also been compared with other progressive bands such as Jethro Tull and Camel, blended with traditional folk music.^[3] Later albums also include more contemporary influences.

History

Mostly Autumn was formed in the mid 1990s, the original line up included several members of Pink Floyd/1970s tribute band One Stoned Snowman. The band's founding line-up consisted of band leader Bryan Josh (vocals and guitars), along with Heidi Widdop (vocals), Iain Jennings (keyboards), Liam Davison (guitars), Alun Hughes (bass), Bob Faulds (violin), Kev Gibbons (whistles), and Chris Walton (drums). Mostly Autumn's first live shows were the former supporting the latter or vice versa; One Stoned Snowman's final concert was a farewell show in December 1995. Mostly Autumn's original rhythm section of Alun Hughes and Chris Walton left the band during 1996 to concentrate on other musical projects and family commitments respectively, and were subsequently replaced by bassist Stuart Carver and drummer Allan Scott. Shortly after this, Widdop was replaced on vocals by Heather Findlay.

This line-up recorded For All We Shared... in 1998. More line-up changes ensued however, and by the time the band recorded their second album, The Spirit of Autumn Past in 1999, Gibbons and Scott had been replaced by Angela Goldthorpe and Rob McNeil respectively.

In 2000 (as a three piece – Bryan, Heather and Angela) they achieved a support slot for Blackmore's Night on their Under a Violet Moon tour, bringing them to a wider audience. On the cover artwork for the following Blackmore's Night album Fires at Midnight (2001), Heather Findlay provided the illustration for the song "Hanging Tree".

On Mostly Autumn's third album, The Last Bright Light (2001), Rob McNeil in turn was replaced by Jonathan Blackmore (not related to Ritchie). Andy Smith replaced Stuart Carver on the bass guitar. Shortly before the band's 'V Shows' tour in 2004, 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.^[7] Olivia Sparnenn joined the band in 2005 to provide additional backing vocals. Ben Matthews of Thunder stood in on keyboards for Mostly Autumn's headline gig at the Baja Prog Festival in Mexico in March 2006. Chris Johnson was then recruited as a permanent replacement, with Angela (now under her married name Gordon) also taking a more prominent role on keyboards.

At the beginning of 2007, both guitarist Liam Davison and drummer Andrew Jennings left the band; Davison to concentrate on his solo album and Jennings to devote his time to his other projects. The guitar parts were shared out amongst the rest of the group. Ex-Karnataka 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 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 (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 was released in early 2008 and an accompanying tour took place in spring and early summer. 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 (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.^[8]

Up to and including Heart Full of Sky (2006) Mostly Autumn's albums have started with the last few seconds of the previous album's final song. This tradition was dropped with the release of Glass Shadows (2008).

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.^[9] This was filmed, and released as a 2-disc DVD under the name That Night in Leamington, which also included a 30-minute interview with Josh and Findlay. After her departure Olivia Sparnenn stepped into the lead role, and the band's next album Go Well Diamond Heart was released in 2010.

Bryan Josh and Olivia Sparnenn were married on 21 June 2013.^[10]

From mid-2013 onwards, Helder and Griffiths were absent from the band's touring line-up due to other commitments. Their positions are being temporarily filled by keyboardist Hannah Hird and drummer Alex Cromarty.^[11] In March 2014, it was revealed by Bryan Josh on the band's official website that Griffiths had decided to leave the band and that Cromarty was now his official replacement. With this line-up the band then recorded their eleventh album, "Dressed in Voices".^[12] Following the completion of "Dressed in Voices", Josh announced that founding member Liam Davison had left the band and had been replaced by returning member Chris Johnson.

In the autumn of 2014, Josh and Sparnenn - as "Mostly Autumn Acoustic" - supported Steve Hackett on the UK leg of his "Genesis Extended" tour.^[13]

Side-projects

Heather Findlay contributed to Arjen Lucassen's 'Ayreon' project on The Human Equation album in 2004, singing the part of "Love".

Jennings left the band at the beginning of 2006 to pursue his own musical ambitions and formed his own band, Breathing Space, as well as contributing to projects by other artists and even becoming an IT teacher at a local secondary school. 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 remained 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 for a short while with Heidi Widdop over on vocals before eventually splitting up.

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 head liners. In August 2007 they released their first album, Offerings.

Both Anne-Marie Helder and Gavin Griffiths are members of Panic Room, and were previously members of Karnataka.

Personnel

Members

Current members Bryan Josh – vocals, guitars, keyboards (1995–present) Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals (1995–2006, 2007–present) Andy Smith – bass (2000–present) Olivia Sparnenn – vocals, percussion (2004–present) Chris Johnson – rhythm & acoustic guitars, keyboards, vocals (2006–2007, 2014-present) Anne-Marie Helder – flutes, keyboards, acoustic guitars, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals (2007–present) Alex Cromarty – drums (2014-present; touring - 2013-2014)

Former members Liam Davison – rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals (1995–2007, 2007–2014) Bob Faulds – violins (1995–2000) Kev Gibbons – whistles (1995–1999) Heidi Widdop – vocals (1995-1996) Alun Hughes – bass, keyboards (1995–1996) Chris Walton – drums (1995–1996) Stuart Carver – bass (1996–2000) Allan Scott – drums (1996–1999) Heather Findlay – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion (1996–2010) Angela Gordon – flutes, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals (1999–2007; touring - 2015–present) Rob McNeil – drums (1999–2000) Jonathan Blackmore – drums (2000–2004) Andrew Jennings – drums (2004–2007, 2007) Henry Bourne – drums (2007-2008) Robbie Baxter - drums (2008-2009) Gavin Griffiths – drums (2009–2014; touring - 2007) Former touring personnel Hannah Hird – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals (2013-2014)

Line-ups

1995-1996	1996	1996–1999	1999–2000
Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heidi Widdop – lead and backing vocals Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals Liam Davison – rhythm and acoustic guitars, backing vocals Alun Hughes – bass, keyboards Bob Faulds – violins Kev Gibbons – whistles Chris Walton – drums	Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heidi Widdop – vocals Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals Liam Davison – rhythm & acoustic guitars, backing vocals Stuart Carver – bass Bob Faulds – violins Kev Gibbons – whistles Allan Scott – drums	Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heather Findlay – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals Liam Davison – rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Stuart Carver – bass Bob Faulds – violins Kev Gibbons – whistles Allan Scott – drums	Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heather Findlay – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals Angela Gordon – flutes, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Liam Davison – rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Stuart Carver – bass Bob Faulds – violins Rob McNeil – drums
2000–2004	2004–2006	2006–2007	2007
Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heather Findlay – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals Angela Gordon – flutes, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Liam Davison – rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Andy Smith – bass Jonathan Blackmore – drums	Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heather Findlay – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals Angela Gordon – flutes, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Liam Davison – rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Andy Smith – bass Andrew Jennings – drums Olivia Sparnenn – backing vocals	Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heather Findlay – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion Chris Johnson – keyboards, rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Angela Gordon – flutes, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Liam Davison – rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Andy Smith – bass Andrew Jennings – drums Olivia Sparnenn – backing vocals	Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heather Findlay – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion Chris Johnson – keyboards, rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Angela Gordon – flutes, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Andy Smith – bass Olivia Sparnenn – backing vocals Substitute musician Gavin Griffiths – drums
2007	2007	2007-2008	2008-2009
Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heather Findlay – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion Chris Johnson – keyboards, rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Angela Gordon – flutes, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Andy Smith – bass Andrew Jennings – drums Olivia Sparnenn – backing vocals	Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heather Findlay – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion Anne-Marie Helder – flutes, keyboards, acoustic guitars, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Andy Smith – bass Henry Bourne – drums Olivia Sparnenn – backing vocals	Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heather Findlay – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals Anne-Marie Helder – flutes, keyboards, acoustic guitars, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Liam Davison – rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Andy Smith – bass Henry Bourne – drums Olivia Sparnenn – backing vocals	Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heather Findlay – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals Anne-Marie Helder – flutes, keyboards, acoustic guitars, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Liam Davison – rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Andy Smith – bass Robbie Baxter – drums Olivia Sparnenn – backing vocals
2009-2010	2010–2014	2014	2014-present
Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Heather Findlay – vocals, acoustic guitars, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals Anne-Marie Helder – flutes, keyboards, acoustic guitars, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Liam Davison – rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Andy Smith – bass Gavin Griffiths – drums Olivia Sparnenn – backing vocals	Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Olivia Sparnenn – vocals, percussion Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals Anne-Marie Helder – flutes, keyboards, acoustic guitars, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Liam Davison – rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Andy Smith – bass Gavin Griffiths – drums Substitute musicians Hannah Hird – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals (for Helder; mid 2013-2014) Alex Cromarty – drums (for Griffiths; mid 2013-2014)	Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Olivia Sparnenn – vocals, percussion Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals Anne-Marie Helder – flutes, keyboards, acoustic guitars, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Liam Davison – rhythm & acoustic guitars, vocals Andy Smith – bass Alex Cromarty – drums Substitute musicians Hannah Hird – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals (for Helder)	Bryan Josh – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, keyboards Olivia Sparnenn – vocals, percussion Iain Jennings – keyboards, backing vocals Anne-Marie Helder – flutes, keyboards, acoustic guitars, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals Chris Johnson – rhythm & acoustic guitars, keyboards, vocals Andy Smith – bass Alex Cromarty – drums Substitute musicians Hannah Hird – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals (for Helder; 2014-2015/small> Angela Gordon – flutes, keyboards, recorders, whistles, percussion, backing vocals (for Helder; 2015-present)

Discography

Studio albums

• For All We Shared... (1998)
• The Spirit of Autumn Past (1999)
• The Last Bright Light (2001)
• Music Inspired by The Lord of the Rings (2001)
• Passengers (2003)
• Storms Over Still Water (2005)
• Heart Full of Sky (2006)
• Glass Shadows (2008)
• Go Well Diamond Heart (2010)
• The Ghost Moon Orchestra (2012)
• Dressed in Voices (2014)

Live albums

• The Story So Far... (CD and VHS 2001)
• Live in the USA (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 (DVD 2003)
• The V Shows (DVD 2004, CD 2005)
• Pink Floyd Revisited (DVD 2004)
• Storms over London Town (CD 2006)
• Live 2009 (CD 2009)
• That Night in Leamington (CD & DVD 2010)
• Live at High Voltage (CD 2011)
• Still Beautiful Live 2011 (CD 2011)

Anthologies

• Heroes Never Die – The Anthology (2002, deleted)
• Catch the Spirit - The Complete Anthology (2002)
• Pass the Clock (2009)

EPs and singles

• Goodbye Alone (2001)
• Prints in the Stone (2001)
• Spirits of Christmas Past (2005)
• A Different Sky (2008)

References

1. Lambe, Stephen. "New Prog Rock festival hits Gloucester". BBC. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
2. Hill, Gary. "Artist Biography by Gary Hill". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
3. Grunill, Paul. "A Band for all Seasons!". BBC. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
4. "Rock Music", Northern Echo, 23 November 2000 p.21
5. "Band were better value than Madge", South Wales Echo, 11 April 2006 p.14
6. "Autumn are seasoned pros", Mail (Birmingham), 13 June 2007 p8
7. "Floyd legacy, but originality foremost", Western Mail, 21 April 2004 p.15
8. "Never mind downloads, the CD is alive and well", The Independent, 2 March 2007 p.12
9. "Heather Findlay". Mostlypink.net. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
10. "Mostly Autumn". Mostly-autumn.com. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
11. "Mostly Autumn - Bilston Robin 2 8/12/2013". Roscalen.com. 2013-12-08. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
12. "Mostly Autumn". Mostly Autumn. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
13. "Mostly Autumn - After a nail-biting few weeks we can...". Facebook. Retrieved 17 February 2015.

External links

• Official website
• BBC Review of Mostly Autumn headlining the 2005 Richmond Live festival
• BBC Review of Mostly Autumn at The Stables, Wavendon 2006