Fresh from their European venture and before they embark on a US tour, Thomas Burrows catches up with Stornoway bassist Oli Steadman, and asks him about life on the road

Oxford-based Stornoway, with their collection of folk indie hits, began their 2013 tour in early February in the grand setting of the Oxford Town Hall. The two nights at the 800-capacity hall both sold out.

This was not the first time the captivating quartet have performed at a famous city landmark: they closed their 2009 tour with a gig at the Sheldonian theatre, and so became the first non-classical band to ever play at the 17th century building. The Oxford Town Hall show marked the launch of Stornoway’s new album Tales from Terra Firma, which was released on March 11, three years since Stornoway’s stunning debut Beachcomber’s Windowsill.

The second album reflects the band’s growing maturity and draws on personal life experiences without losing the joyful charm of the first. “Zorbing”, the first track on “Beachcomber’s Windowsill” opened with the line “conkers shining on the ground, the air is cooler and I feel like I just started uni.”

Since their humble beginnings, when the band played to a handful of committed followers, Stornoway’s popularity has soared. Oli said: “The crowds get bigger and more welcoming as we visit more places – and more importantly people appreciate us visiting the same towns more than once.

“On this European tour we’ve seen the same faces we met two years ago, plus a few more.”

Stornoway spent last year perfecting and fine-tuning their superb second album across various locations in Oxford, including the Pegasus Theatre.

After a year in the wilderness, the band were itching to return to the stage. Oli said: “Personally I live to tour and perform. The ninety minutes of madness every night is worth any tiredness we feel.

“To be able to play and dance around in front of 400 people a night is a motivating experience.”

But the touring process is relentless. After finishing a gig, the band are straight back on the road. “That’s the downside”, said South-African born Oli, “we don’t really see much of each town since all our time is spent either in a tour bus or in a sunless building.”

As the band travel between destinations, there is plenty of time for reflection and thoughts turn to home.

Oli said: “We’re very proud to be one of the Oxford bands going out into the world, showing people what our city can do musically.

“One of the strangest things we’ve done was sharing a festival bill in Australia with Foals." (Foals' lead-singer Yannis Philippakis was educated at Magdalen College School, along with Oli and his little brother, and the band's drummer, Rob).

"The rest of the line-up each day was American or local," he said. "And it was very comforting being joined there by another group of our own, who live just down the road.”