BARNEY band About the Humans… are enjoying being back on the road after months of Covid-enforced silence.
The five-piece performed at The TCR Hub earlier this month and will take to the new outdoor stage at The Witham this weekend.
While the band has been around for a relatively short while, its members – singer, songwriter and guitarist Andy Yeadon, vocalist Moray Nellis, Paul Hughes, on fiddle, bass player Rupert Philbrick and drummer Maddy Forsyth – have known each other for much longer.
Mr Yeadon explained: “I have always had a band of some description that plays my songs. It got to the point when people were dropping in and out and I just went out as Andrew Yeadon with a band.
“In recent years, Moray and I have worked as a duo and the band has evolved from that.
“It was Moray who came up with the name. I have known Paul for 30 years. We met when we were 17 and have always been involved in music in some way or form.”
He added: “Rupert has only just joined us in the last six months. I used to teach him when he was a young lad. During lockdown, he came back for some more guitar lessons and I realised how good he was and asked if he wanted to play bass. He has fitted in brilliantly.”
At just 20, Ms Forsyth is the youngest member of the band and was invited to join when the previous incumbent relocated to Manchester.
“I was her drum teacher at school. She is an exceptional drummer and works so well with us,” added Mr Yeadon.
As with all artists, About the Humans… saw all of their bookings cancelled during lockdown, but the band has been back playing regularly as restrictions have eased.
“We have been to festivals in Alnwick Castle, Warwickshire and Druridge Bay and we’ve got The Witham coming up,” added Mr Yeadon.
There is also an album of new material in the offing, a follow-up to 2018’s The Beast Below, which was released under Andy and Moray’s names.
“We have got enough material to start recording a new album – that should be imminent,” said Mr Yeadon.
There is also the possibility of the live set played at The Hub being released as an EP. The entire four-band gig was recorded by expert sound engineer Chris West, whose credits include working on a number of Status Quo’s later albums.
