~*Stormcrow*~

Stormcrow was formed back in the distant days of 1987 by Chris McAneary (bass / vocals) Rick Huddleston (vocals / guitar / mandolin) and Mark Hadlett (12 string guitar).

We played a number of folk clubs and festivals mainly in the North of England, but also including Cambridge Folk Festival (Club tent of course). In 1996 Mark H won first place in the Middlewich Seventh Boat and Folk Festival Talent Contest.

By the end of '96, the original line up had faded away and we formed a (supposedly) one off band to play The Gathering ‘s ‘Entertainer’s competition with Amanda (vocals), Jo Blair (vocals / wind instruments) and Mark Simpson (Bodharan / drum / vocals and a bit of guitar). We knew about three songs together and had fun singing around the camp fires even though the competition didn’t happen.The four of us continued to perform together, and recorded the eponymously titled Stormcrow, followed by Face the Future in 1997, most of the songs being written by Jo Blair and Mark Hadlett.

By the end of 1998 Jo Blair and Mark Simpson had left the band, but by July 1999 the band was back in the studio recording Crow Circle. This album was named after a standing stone circle which Mark and Amanda were constructive in building in North Yorkshire. Recorded in a stone built shed, Mark and Amanda were joined by Barbara Howarth (drumming/percussion), Peter McDonald (bodharan) and Ingrid Bentley (percussion).

Mark’s daughter, Sarah, joined the band in 1999, when she sang with the band at the Silver Branch’s Lughnassad festival.

Celtic Twilight was released in 2005 and the live role-play flavoured album Here Be Demons in 2006.

A video of Monks of Satan was made at Goth Fest in April 2006 featuring the Monks from the song;
Brother Septimus played by Andy Brown
Brother Pancreas played by Dave Ayrton
Brother Tobias Taddin played by Edwin Ollis

Filmed on the Saturday afternoon around the 199 steps and St Mary's churchyard, great fun was had by all and a satisfying forty minutes of footage was produced.We were also filmed by local news cameras and appeared on the Whitby Goth section of the Local News.

Stormcrow albums are now available to download from Woven Wheat Whispers.

The song Gargoyle is featured on the album John Barleycorn Reborn a compilation of English Dark folk music released by Cold Spring/Woven Wheat Whispers on 1 August 2007.

The band has continued to play live as often as possible, including the BBC Music Live Day, Pagan festivals, and frequently add atmosphere to events hosted by Chimera Leisure.

Looking towards future recording projects during Summer 2007 an album with the working title Behind the Mask is planned.