Stornoway, Barbican Hall

On the 8th December, Stornoway bring theirbig-hearted indie-folk to the prestigious Barbican Hall. The gig wraps up a UK tour and great year for this Oxford four-piece: whose particular brand of weather-beaten whimsy has been rending hearts in shows across Europe and the States.

But don’t let all the moonlit sentiment put you off; their second album Tales from Terra Firma was adored by fans and critics alike on its release last March. This album is wilder than their 2010debut Beachcomber’s Windowsill. The emotional, ecological lyrics and swelling harmonies of their first album remain intact, but are given a bit more bite. The jauntier guitar, African rhythms and host of new instruments (a Turkish zither, anyone?) keep the airy melodies interesting.

The secret of Stornoway’s success is their combination of indie authenticity (channeling British Sea Power, or Guillemots- what is it about coastal nomenclature?) with an unashamed pop sensibility.They give us catchy tunes that we can hum without being embarrassed. But what we love most about these folksters is that they're the kind of boys we went out with at seventeen: lovesick and singing about albatrosses with their thumbs through their cardigans.

Or that, named after a town in the Outer Hebrides they’re the only band in the world that gets free promotion with every shipping forecast.

Ticket price: £15-20