AT times in their seven years as a band, Sootytern have been major players on the Furness live circuit - and at others they've been nowhere to be seen.

By Karl Steel ( email )

It has been almost four years since the indie-folk outfit were regular fixtures in the local gig guide, owing to travelling, education and being based away from the area, yet it's a name that is still held in high esteem.

With two well-received EPs, appearances on BBC 6Music and festival headline slots, the first half of their existence was strewn with successes and achievements.

Starting off as the solo project of Jayson Turner while he was away at university in Manchester, he added friends Ewan MacDonald and Peter Hewson to the line-up, making their full-band debut at Kendal Calling in 2009.

By the time Adam Fenton joined on mandolin, they had established a reputation and began playing shows all over the country.

Jayson takes up the story: "Sootytern started with just me, back in early 2009. I played the open mic circuit in Manchester and needed a name - something more inventive than "Jayson Turner".


"Most of the songs at the time were wildlife and nature themed so Sootytern seemed like a good fit. It's a rare bird and a unique sounding name for an artist so I went with it.

"Playing alone is hard work, there are so many singer-songwriters that it becomes difficult to stand out and make a big noise, especially as I had at this point replaced my guitar with a ukulele.

"Ewan, our drummer, was also living in Manchester so I asked him to start a band, and Peet, our bassist, elbowed his way in. We stayed in that formation for most of 2009, and our mate Ben joined the band later that year playing mandolin. It was at this point we realised we could make a pretty decent sound.

"Sadly Ben moved to Brighton, but fortunately our mate Fenton was around and eager to get on the mandolin.

"Our best year was 2012: we released two EPs, played more than 60 gigs, and finished the year headlining a beautiful festival called Out of the Trees, in Northumbria.

"We did so much that year, it took over our lives a bit, and we never could get that momentum back."

By this point they'd become firm favourites with the Furness gig-goers, and their headline sets - mostly during summer and Christmas breaks - were a big draw.

But in 2013 Jayson worked away for three months, limiting the number of live appearances to just a select handful of shows that year, and then Adam and Peet went off travelling, leaving Jayson and Ewan to finish their PhDs.

In the past four years, Sootytern's fleeting appearances have felt like an occasion, where their old fans can still sing the words of their songs back at them.

Vocalist and ukulele player Jayson says he is proud of all they achieved, and he will miss the camaraderie of sharing a stage with his mates.

"A band is a tight unit, you basically become siblings and it's amazing," he says.

"When we get together we instantly know how to play along with each other. It's a wonderful feeling.

"I'm proud we got as far as we did - we actually got the band off the ground and managed to make at least something of it. We supported Nat Johnson, Eliza and the Bear, and We Were Evergreen, those were great times.

"We toured the UK, playing a few shows in London along the way. We went down well there, and never sold so many CDs.

"I'm proud of the guys for putting the effort in and making the whole experience a joy.

"The best moment for me was Eliza and the Bear contacting us to say they could hear our music being played at Watford services - I mean, who could ask for more?"

Even though Sootytern faded out without much of a fanfare, there will be plenty of their followers keen to catch them as they take to the stage one final time.

With Adam working on his own project called Brocken Spectre , and Jayson concentrating on his vocal/electronic act KITS - both of which have releases on Jayson's new Zzz! Recordings label - the time is right to give their well-loved band the send-off it deserves.

On Friday November 11, they appear at the Big Kings, in Ulverston, alongside their long-time supporters Cassie and Paper Cranes - and Jayson is keen to make it a memorable farewell.

"It's come to a point where we live in three different towns, that we can't rehearse and gig as much as we would like.

"There are large gaps where none of us can commit, and we never really make any progress on new material. So it seems to make sense to call it a day, and it frees us up to do other things.

"We're doing one final show as our drummer didn't make the last one - he was away and we had Dan Payne from Cassie jump in at the last moment. He did a smashing job but we'd like to have a final send-off with Ewan behind the kit.

"Cumbria gigs have always been the best - everyone goes nuts and it's incredible.

"Ultimately that crowd are our friends, and if we can make music that they like, and they'll even consider paying money to watch, then that's just brilliant.

"The last few shows at the Piel and Another a Fine Fest were a pleasure to play, if the people watching are smiling it makes it a million times more fun.

"We've had so much support from other Cumbrian artists too, there's a real family of musicians at the moment. We're close with the guys from Cassie, Paper Cranes and Bad Transmission, all of whom we love.

"Thanks to family and friends for supporting us and coping with us.

"This will be the last official show, but never say never.

"I like to think this is our version of LCD Soundsystem's long goodbye. Give us five years, we might be back."

* Sootytern play the Big Kings, in Ulverston, on Friday November 11. Music starts at 8pm, and entrance is free.