Orkney band Mockingbird to headline new Thurso music event, KW1-Fest
A highly rated Orkney band are heading over the water to headline a gig in Thurso on Saturday, March 1.
Six of Mockingbird’s usual seven-piece line-up will perform in the town’s Royal Hotel at the inaugural KW1-Fest.
Band member Douglas Montgomery.
Styled as a fusion of blues, soul, rock’n’roll and country, they were brought together several years ago by Jake Milway after he settled in Orkney following a successful stint on the British blues circuit.
Their playlist gives their distinctive takes on hits from artistes as varied as the Allman Brothers and The Faces to the Stones and Steely Dan, as well as Jake’s own tracks.
The Thurso audience can expect soulful vocals; multi-layered harmonies; sparkling fiddle and guitar licks; and an exhilarating rhythm section.
Milway (guitar and vocal) is joined by Leah Seator (vocal); Andy Taylor (guitar); Douglas Montgomery (violin and guitar); Colin Drever (bass); and Will Scott (drums and vocal).
Also playing will be Thurso band The White Ladies and The Andy Taylor Group.
The event is the latest to be organised by Thurso music aficianado Iain Elder.
Tickets at the door cost £15 but earlybird wrist-bands for £10 can be obtained from Mcbeaths jeweller's shop in Traill Street.
Iain Grant
John O'Groat Journal & Caithness Courier,
23 Febraury 2025
Mockingbird are bringing the fun to Finstown this Saturday night. From left: El Kevano, “Poplar” Jake Milway, Will Scott, Leah Seator, Colin Drever and Andy Taylor. Missing from the photograph is multi-genre phenomenon Douglas Montgomery.
PARTY AT THE POMONA!
Mockingbird brings the fun to Finstown for refreshed pub's first live gig
THE WEEKEND'S party will be at The Pomona this Saturday night, as punters pack in for the pub's first live gig since its much aniticipated reopening last summer.
The honour of christening the Pomona stage goes to Mockingbird - an Orkney supergroup whose setlist is stuffed with hits from Steely Dan to the Rolling Stones. From good old-fashoined country to soul and rock ‘n’ roll - Mockingbird have got you covered.
Singer Leah Seator hopes this gig will be the first of many more to come for the freshly refurbished Finstown watering hole.
"I played the Pomona with Bad Apple in 2015 - it wasn't a place that had taken bands for many, many years - but it was an absolute stonker of a night, and we were always keen to go back!
"I know The Pomona was much missed during a period of closure - but since it reopened in August it's been absolutely heaving every weekend, and the owners, Davie and Sharon, have done everything they can to keep up that momentum.
“We are chuffed to bits to get to play in there, and hopefully there will be loads more to come as the year goes on!”
Sarah Gilmour
The Orcadian, 13 February 2025
GIG REVIEW: MOCKINGBIRD AT THE GABLE END
BACK IN August 2023 I went to The Motorhouse in Kirkwall to see and hear a new band.
Amazing musicians in their own right, putting them together to make Mockingbird was inspired by guitarist “Poplar” Jake Milway.
The band has since gone from strength to strength, playing gigs around Orkney. By the time they reached The Gable End Theatre in Hoy on Saturday, November 2, the band were on fire!
Playing to a packed theatre (biggest turn out since before lockdown), Mockingbird blew us away with amazing playing and singing. So moved by it and very proud of them all, I am not ashamed to say I cried (in a happy way!) during some of the songs.
The band played a mix of known tunes as well as some penned by the very talented Poplar Jake. When I Go Away by Levon Helm is one of my absolute favourites. Led by singer/drummer and all-round amazing musician Will Scott, as the song gathers pace and the rest of the band take on the harmonies it truly becomes a special piece of music. Kevin Kerr aka El Kevano - the most brilliant keyboard player I have ever heard - is usually tucked in behind the rest of the band. At the Gable he was centre stage, deserving every second of his stage time. Alone on stage with his keyboard tower while the others took a breather, playing what must be his theme tune, Kevano's Boogie, he appeared to have at least 50 fingers hitting his notes! Leading Booker T's Time Is Tight again showed what a clever keyboard player he is.
Bluesman Andy Taylor and Jake share the lead guitar work, Andy as usual pulling us in with his tricks and flicks. Like the others in the band, music runs through his veins and he is rarely seen guitarless! Although Jake is reasonably new to the Orkney scene, he has in his quiet, unassuming way thrown down his musical gauntlet, and told us he is here to stay. He is such a super-talented musician and writer, shown in his own compositions What If I'm Wrong?, Rise, Ten Percent Man and Poor Man.
Steering the band from the back corner of the Gable stage were Colin Drever and Douglas Montgomery. Colin is a cool, casual and experienced bass player. He has everything going on around him completely sussed out, and as sound man of the whole operation, he knows exactly how to get the band sounding its absolute best.
Douglas looked like he was having the time of his life! Amother player that makes it look so easy, and of course for him it is, having played the fiddle his whole life.
In May, blues and rock singer Leah Seator joined the band, taking it on a new journey. The first rehearsal with her was described as “a belter”.
Leah is a fabulous singer with years of experience, evident when she is fronting this band. She had the audience right with her as she rocked out to Janis Joplin's Me and Bobby McGee.
So there it is. What do you get when you put six brilliant musicians and a fantastic frontwoman together? You are handed an unforgettable rock/blues band that has to be heard live to be appreciated - the mighty Mockingbird! Follow their adventures on facebook at Mockingbird Band or on mockingbird.band
Carol Taylor
The Orcadian, 14 November 2024
MOCKINGBIRD SET FOR HOY STAGE
A Magnificent Seven of Orkney's finest musicians are set for the stage in Hoy, bringing a fusion of blues, rock ‘n’ roll and country music to the Gable End Theatre.
Described as a “supergroup” of heavyweight local band members, Mockingbird were brought together by seasoned Bluesman “Poplar” Jake Milway - who after many years of playing to acclaim on the British blues circuit, followed his nose to the renowned Orkney music scene. Jake, along with Orkney band stalwart Colin Drever, approached others with a view to creating something very special, and a powerhouse seven-piece outfit was born.
The band has been steadily impressing local venues, presenting creative takes on song from The Allman Brothers to The Faces, and new music from cutting edge blues/soul artists.
The icing on the cake is their original music - penned by Jake, and peppered collaboratively by his fellow members, each adding something unique to the mix.
Bringing their various musical niches together for the first time, Mockingbird have spawned an entirely new sound.
Expect soulful vocals, multilayered harmonies, sparkling fiddle and guitar solos, boogie woogie keys and a rhythm section that won't just get you on your feet - it'll blow your socks off!
Mockingbird are “Poplar” Jake Milway - guitar/vocals; Colin Drever - bass; Will Scott - drums/vocals; El Kevano - keys/vocals; Andrew Taylor - guitar; Douglas Montgomery - fiddle/guitar and Leah Seator - vocals.
The Orcadian, 24 October 2024
Mockingbird at Dounby Show, 8th August 2024
Mockingbird
Formed last year, Mockingbird already looked like an Orkney supergroup with the established talents of 'Poplar' Jake Milway and Andy Taylor on guitar, Colin Drever on bass, Will Scott on drums, Douglas Montgomery on fiddle and guitar and El Kevano adding an extra dimension through his keyboards. And it's got even better with Leah Seator joining earlier this year as lead vocalist in a band that already has four others who sing. Expect vocal harmonies, guitar interplay, thrilling keyboard solos and a dynamic rhythm section. From the Allman Brothers to the Blues Brothers and all points beyond, the only things that can hold them back are their diaries, as they are all in so many other bands.
Website for 9th Orkney Rock festival, September 2024