The Sit Down with Morganway
The six-piece powerhouse Morganway have become one of the most in demand acts on the UK country and Americana scenes off the back of their high intensity live shows which has seen the play not just all of the major events in the genres but also numerous multi-genre mainstream festivals. The Morgan twins: Kieran and Callum along with Nicole Terry, Matt Brocklehurst, Ed Bullinger and lead vocalist SJ Mortimer have had a busy 2025 which saw them release their new album “Kill The Silence” in the middle of a packed festival season including a performance at Country Calling in Chelmsford where we spent some time having a good old catchup after their set.
Right, anyway, let's do it. We haven't actually done this for ages so it’s great to catch up with you all to be unprofessionally professional again because we see each other about all the time.
“It was with you, where the famous arse of Norfolk came from.” (C)
“Wasn’t it the arse or England?” (N)
Yeah, at Buckle & Boots, Americana from the arse of England wasn’t it. You've played like every festival under the sun over here by now, so Country Calling, right here, right now, what your impressions on Donna and Pete's first go at putting this on?
“Yeah, amazing. I mean, the way they're looking after the artists is second to none, it's been absolutely amazing. We’re actually a bit gutted, well, I’m not because I’m drinking, but the rest of them are a bit gutted because they’re driving and we’re actually getting a full rider and all of that stuff.” (K)
They were really proud about how hard they have worked on everyone riders and stuff, so it’s either true or everywhere else has made a mess then.
“The stage was great as well, it’s massive with great sound and like screens as well.” (SJ)
“It’s great, I hope it keeps building.” (K)
I definitely think it's going to. A lot of people definitely took note from what they saw going on yesterday. They've got the stuff right though, because it's not like the big things they need to work on. Like SJ said the sound is good, the stage is good, you’re looked after and they are the main things for what you want from a festival.
“One hundred percent, you come in and feel like a rock star, like we didn’t have to carry our merch miles.” (K)
“You just drive in over there and your done, that never happens! Also, clear signposting!” (N)
“Is that what Donna wants as the main quote: The festival has clear signposting.” (C)
Yep, on all next years promo it’s going to have Nicole Terry from Morganway says “I like that the festival has clear signposting.”
“You can also add that the portaloo’s have loo roll, soap and their own sinks as well.” (SJ)
Right, anyway, let's do it. We haven't actually done this for ages so it’s great to catch up with you all to be unprofessionally professional again because we see each other about all the time.
“It was with you, where the famous arse of Norfolk came from.” (C)
“Wasn’t it the arse or England?” (N)
Yeah, at Buckle & Boots, Americana from the arse of England wasn’t it. You've played like every festival under the sun over here by now, so Country Calling, right here, right now, what your impressions on Donna and Pete's first go at putting this on?
“Yeah, amazing. I mean, the way they're looking after the artists is second to none, it's been absolutely amazing. We’re actually a bit gutted, well, I’m not because I’m drinking, but the rest of them are a bit gutted because they’re driving and we’re actually getting a full rider and all of that stuff.” (K)
They were really proud about how hard they have worked on everyone riders and stuff, so it’s either true or everywhere else has made a mess then.
“The stage was great as well, it’s massive with great sound and like screens as well.” (SJ)
“It’s great, I hope it keeps building.” (K)
I definitely think it's going to. A lot of people definitely took note from what they saw going on yesterday. They've got the stuff right though, because it's not like the big things they need to work on. Like SJ said the sound is good, the stage is good, you’re looked after and they are the main things for what you want from a festival.
“One hundred percent, you come in and feel like a rock star, like we didn’t have to carry our merch miles.” (K)
“You just drive in over there and your done, that never happens! Also, clear signposting!” (N)
“Is that what Donna wants as the main quote: The festival has clear signposting.” (C)
Yep, on all next years promo it’s going to have Nicole Terry from Morganway says “I like that the festival has clear signposting.”
“You can also add that the portaloo’s have loo roll, soap and their own sinks as well.” (SJ)
Any other things that we've not encountered before that we're fans of at this festival? Any other observations?
“I love having our own dressing room and the fact that we've got it for the day because normally you get like a little two hour window and a dressing room where you come off stage feeling amazing and they're sort of like come on guys, out you get, someone else is in there next.” (K)
It’s a pretty local one for you as well.
“We went in the car and I was like, oh my God, it's only forty-five minutes to a festival. This is amazing, we're not spending at least three hours in the car.” (K)
You played with the wonderful Fanny Lumsden the other night as well and Nicole is rocking the merch too. She was on top form yesterday running out into the crowd and jumping over the barrier in her tiny little shorts as you would expect her to do.
”Probably only on about three hours sleep as well, she's just a beast.” (K)
"Then Nicole is loving her Fanny Lumsden Fanny Pack right here." (SJ)
Who doesn't? I've got an "I Love Fanny" hat as well from when she came over the first time and we put stickers up at the Dukes in Highgate.
"SJ has put an I Love Fanny sticker on her guitar, so that will be on show at every gig as well." (K)
Had you met her before?
“No, only yesterday.” (SJ)
What were your first impressions of that crazy yet wonderful lady?
“She's so inspirational.” (SJ)
“She just a lovely person and her whole band are really lovely.” (N)
“Her show was so inspirational too, because there is so much energy and everyone was getting so into it. Then knowing what she was telling us behind the scenes about how she's taking her kids on the road and she's had three hours sleep but still puts on those shows with so much energy.” (K)
It's been such a long run as well, she’s been here for like two months and is going straight back on the road when she gets home. I think she’s awesome, I met her the first time that she came over here about three years ago so it’s great that they keep heading back more and more.
“Yeah, we were talking about playing Belladrum in Inverness that we did last year and we were saying it’s such a long drive. It's so north, isn't it? They were like, we've driven seventeen hours to do one show and back again, you can't talk about other drives. We were like fair enough, we're not worthy.” (K)
But more importantly, what we're looking at for the rest of the year beyond these festivals? The album came out right at the start of the year, so are we just keeping on touring it and stuff then kind of seeing what happens with new music next year, or have we got something else on the cards?
“We're releasing our version of “Pink Pony Club” which is really fun and then we’ve got some kind of more stripped back acoustic live versions of our album songs off “Kill The Silence” that we’re going to be popping out as well.” (SJ)
Appreciate the hang and we need to do this more often, especially around releases and ahead of tours. It’s weird, it’s harder doing serious stuff with you guys, Kezia, Sally & Ste, Jade and everyone like that because I just want to chat shit because you are my mates, then twenty minutes later it’s like how the fuck can I make this read professional so I got wary of it. Plus, like I said to Callum before, how can anyone who has seen me be sick in a bush take things seriously? However, half of these people I am also thinking OMG they have seen me wasted, I'm like actually I've seen them get messy too, so it works both ways.
"Exactly we're Morganway so you don't need to worry about that all that, do you?" (K)
“I love having our own dressing room and the fact that we've got it for the day because normally you get like a little two hour window and a dressing room where you come off stage feeling amazing and they're sort of like come on guys, out you get, someone else is in there next.” (K)
It’s a pretty local one for you as well.
“We went in the car and I was like, oh my God, it's only forty-five minutes to a festival. This is amazing, we're not spending at least three hours in the car.” (K)
You played with the wonderful Fanny Lumsden the other night as well and Nicole is rocking the merch too. She was on top form yesterday running out into the crowd and jumping over the barrier in her tiny little shorts as you would expect her to do.
”Probably only on about three hours sleep as well, she's just a beast.” (K)
"Then Nicole is loving her Fanny Lumsden Fanny Pack right here." (SJ)
Who doesn't? I've got an "I Love Fanny" hat as well from when she came over the first time and we put stickers up at the Dukes in Highgate.
"SJ has put an I Love Fanny sticker on her guitar, so that will be on show at every gig as well." (K)
Had you met her before?
“No, only yesterday.” (SJ)
What were your first impressions of that crazy yet wonderful lady?
“She's so inspirational.” (SJ)
“She just a lovely person and her whole band are really lovely.” (N)
“Her show was so inspirational too, because there is so much energy and everyone was getting so into it. Then knowing what she was telling us behind the scenes about how she's taking her kids on the road and she's had three hours sleep but still puts on those shows with so much energy.” (K)
It's been such a long run as well, she’s been here for like two months and is going straight back on the road when she gets home. I think she’s awesome, I met her the first time that she came over here about three years ago so it’s great that they keep heading back more and more.
“Yeah, we were talking about playing Belladrum in Inverness that we did last year and we were saying it’s such a long drive. It's so north, isn't it? They were like, we've driven seventeen hours to do one show and back again, you can't talk about other drives. We were like fair enough, we're not worthy.” (K)
But more importantly, what we're looking at for the rest of the year beyond these festivals? The album came out right at the start of the year, so are we just keeping on touring it and stuff then kind of seeing what happens with new music next year, or have we got something else on the cards?
“We're releasing our version of “Pink Pony Club” which is really fun and then we’ve got some kind of more stripped back acoustic live versions of our album songs off “Kill The Silence” that we’re going to be popping out as well.” (SJ)
Appreciate the hang and we need to do this more often, especially around releases and ahead of tours. It’s weird, it’s harder doing serious stuff with you guys, Kezia, Sally & Ste, Jade and everyone like that because I just want to chat shit because you are my mates, then twenty minutes later it’s like how the fuck can I make this read professional so I got wary of it. Plus, like I said to Callum before, how can anyone who has seen me be sick in a bush take things seriously? However, half of these people I am also thinking OMG they have seen me wasted, I'm like actually I've seen them get messy too, so it works both ways.
"Exactly we're Morganway so you don't need to worry about that all that, do you?" (K)
Anyway, it's great to catch up. You were fantastic for the twenty seconds that I saw on stage.
"You gentleman." (K)
I think the entire twenty seconds was basically just watching Nicole jumping.
"I felt I had to ration the jumping today!" (N)
Well, I obviously lucked out and caught the best bit.
"Well yes, obviously you did." (N)
Are you sticking around for the rest of the day or are we rushing back?
"Yeah, we're going to watch Kez and we're gonna stick around and enjoy ourselves as we're only forty minutes down the road." (K)
Well, you've got a shorter journey back than me for once because I'm going back to West London tonight. Great to like work hang again as we haven't done this for ages but I'll let Kieran find some more beer and the rest of you watch him drink his beers.
"Don't worry, you can watch him be sick in a corner soon." (C)
"Yeah, we can be sick together!" (K)
Morganway have recently released their version of “Pink Pony Club” which is out now and available HERE. The band will close out the year on the 28th November with a show at The Junction in Cambridge, which you can find full details and ticket information for on their WEBSITE whilst you can keep up to date with all that they are up to over on INSTAGRAM TIKTOK & FACEBOOK.
This year’s Country Calling was a resounding success with next year’s event set to take place between the 14th and 16th of August so you can be the first to find out more details on their WEBSITE and relive all the 2025 highlights on INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK.
"You gentleman." (K)
I think the entire twenty seconds was basically just watching Nicole jumping.
"I felt I had to ration the jumping today!" (N)
Well, I obviously lucked out and caught the best bit.
"Well yes, obviously you did." (N)
Are you sticking around for the rest of the day or are we rushing back?
"Yeah, we're going to watch Kez and we're gonna stick around and enjoy ourselves as we're only forty minutes down the road." (K)
Well, you've got a shorter journey back than me for once because I'm going back to West London tonight. Great to like work hang again as we haven't done this for ages but I'll let Kieran find some more beer and the rest of you watch him drink his beers.
"Don't worry, you can watch him be sick in a corner soon." (C)
"Yeah, we can be sick together!" (K)
Morganway have recently released their version of “Pink Pony Club” which is out now and available HERE. The band will close out the year on the 28th November with a show at The Junction in Cambridge, which you can find full details and ticket information for on their WEBSITE whilst you can keep up to date with all that they are up to over on INSTAGRAM TIKTOK & FACEBOOK.
This year’s Country Calling was a resounding success with next year’s event set to take place between the 14th and 16th of August so you can be the first to find out more details on their WEBSITE and relive all the 2025 highlights on INSTAGRAM or FACEBOOK.
