Liverpool band The Hummingbirds are back with new music

The Hummingbirds are back with a new EP, an album ready to go and most importantly a renewed enthusiasm for the music business.

The Liverpool five piece drifted apart after their early success failed to translate into the big-break they deserved but lockdown boredom turned into creativity and fans are delighted with the result.

“We never fell out, we never stopped talking,” said lead singer and guitarist Jay Davies, “we were just a bit defeated by not getting signed.

“For the Hummingbirds everything was in place. We were selling out venues and playing festivals. There was a real buzz around us. It was a kick in the teeth when it didn’t push on.”

The band won the Liverpool Music Award One to Watch 2013 and sold out the O2 Academy.

They crowdfunded their first album Pieces of You to critical acclaim and were famously a favourite listen of Wayne and Coleen Rooney.

But when the music business couldn’t provide a living Jay, guitarist Matty Brougham, guitarist Mic Kountis, drummer Richard Smith and bass player Ryan Lewis had to make a living elsewhere. Music was relegated.

“When The Hummingbirds first started, we were 21 and had all the time in the world. We were always together and had our own studio,” Jay said, “but when music isn’t paying the bills, something else has to.”

Then the world stopped in early 2020 when Covid-19 forced us all into lockdown. With time on their hands the band re-connected.

Jay from The Hummingbirds

Jay explained: “We started playing online poker against each other and that turned into getting the guitars out and getting creative. When we could meet up again, we got together to jam and that turned into writing songs and then we had enough songs for an album.”

The first fruits of their lockdown creativity can be heard on the EP Live From The Nave which came out this week, with an album to follow in early 2023.

Jay explained: “We saw some bands we liked had recorded at The Nave studios in Leeds and it looked boss so we spent a weekend there recording.

“We hadn’t made music in a long-time, but it was almost like we had never been away. The response has been really good, and we are pleased to have something out there again.”

All the familiar sounds of The Hummingbirds are there, the gorgeous harmonies and catchy guitar riffs of their skiffle inspired tunes. However, there is a maturity to the sound and lyrics and Jay is proud of the new music.

“We thought it was a bit different, but people are saying it’s really recognisable as our sound,” he said. “After four or five years away from music everyone in the band had a lot of stuff to write about.”

So does he have a favourite among the new tracks?

“I like How Long?” Jay said, “But we all have different favourite songs.”

One thing that definitely unites them though is what they are listening to when they aren’t writing their own music.

Nashville singer and songwriter Rayland Baxter is a big favourite, as are indie band Flyte. However, there is still one singer that they are mainly inspired by.

“We are all obsessed with Ryan Adams,” said Jay. “He is a major influence on our music.”

One for the tour van when they get back out on the road to play to fans new and old.

First up will be the KU bar in Stockton, Teesside, in November, a long running live music venue that has been a big supporter of The Hummingbirds and fellow Liverpool band Red Rum Club. After that a tour is planned for 2023 with dates in Norway on the agenda, a country where the band have enjoyed success in the past.

Before then, Liverpool fans hoping to catch The Hummingbirds keep your eyes on their socials as the lads would love nothing more than a home-town Christmas gig and if the response to the new EP is anything to go by it should be another hot ticket.

Live From the Nave is out now. Get it on Spotify and Apple or watch on YouTube HERE.