Sometimes a bombshell comes completely out of the blue.
Heather Findlay is leaving Mostly Autumn to concentrate of a solo career. The news came late on Thursday night, and I’m still trying to come to terms with it. I’m completely devastated in a way people for whom music is background wallpaper or a once-a-year trip to an enormodome will never be able to understand.
I first saw Mostly Autumn live at Jillys in Manchester back in 2004, and have seem them 40-odd times since, 30 of those in the past three years. Their music has changed my life over the past few years in ways I could never have anticipated, and helped me through some difficult times.
And there’s just something uniquely magical about Mostly Autumn’s live shows; no other band is quite like it for me. Seeing another great band live is like visiting an exotic location on holiday, seeing Mostly Autumn feels like coming home. I’ve made so many great friends through Mostly Autumn fandom it feels like an extended family.
Although I’ve only met Heather a handful of times, she has always treated me like a personal friend.
Mostly Autumn are to continue, with their backing vocalist Olivia Sparnenn taking over on lead vocals. The knock on effect of that is that Olivia will be leaving her own band, Breathing Space, another great band I’ve seen almost as many times as Mostly Autumn, and who now face an uncertain future.
While there’s going to be a new-look Mostly Autumn, and we’ve got Heather’s solo project to look forward to, I need time to reflect on what we’ve lost before I can really start to look towards to the future.
The absolutely electrifying live shows in 2009 meant Heather’s time with Mostly Autumn ended on a high. She will be playing one last farewell show with the band, at The Assembly in Leamington Spa on Good Friday, April 2nd. I’ve already got my ticket.
Hey, Tim, nice read. Change is tough, but soo good in the end.
I’m not a huge music aficionado, and never go to concerts, but I’ve added a lot of bands to my playlists and even bought a few downloads as a result of things you’ve suggested. Turns out I love prog rock and never knew it.
Anyway, bottom line is that I’m one of those people you mention who’s not really affected by this news, but Mostly Autumn is a band I know of and listen to that I’d never have heard of if not for you.
isnt it strange tim how a band such as mostly autumn can get under your skin. they manage to bring everybody together as a family and allow you to be as big or smaller part of the family as you wish. the door is all ways open, and the band are willing to give up a little of their time to every memer of that family if so desired.
i was lucky enough to spend about half an hour in the company of heather and ian at the cambridge rock festival the year before last. what a lovley couple they are. like you said ,heather is such a kind, generous person, she was prepared to stand and talk to me whilst ian chatted with other fans, and then gracefully excused herself after letting me into her life for that brief time. it meant a lot to me and she dosnt have to do things like that.
i will not only miss her superb vocals, but her warmth and willingness to give of herself in every single performance. the chemistry she has with bryan and the other band members, i feel will be impossible to replace.
i remeber reading a peice that roger wrote about livvy and heather. he said livvy is a superb singer but when i go and see mostly autumn i want to see heather singing. i echo his every word. i,m sure we will come to love olivia as front woman, but it will never be the same without heather.
i just hope she will record some rocky stuff on her solo album as well as her more mellow stuff which crept into the glass shadows album last year.
anyway i,m rambling now.
no doubt i will see you in leamington mate.
all the best
flathead (john)