Tim Hughes catches up with soul country-rocker, Reid Morrison of Treetop Flyers, who went from busker to country-rock star

For one of the most laid-back men in rock, Reid Morrison is in something of a rush.

He’s not stressing – that would be just too out of character for the mellow frontman of country-rock band Treetop Flyers – but he is in a hurry. “I’ve got a plane to catch,” he says breathlessly, as he rushes to the check-in desk at Stansted. “I’m on my way to Denmark for a few days. Then it’s back here before going off to America for three weeks, then Holland for Westerpop, back here, and off to the States again to play in Nashville!”

It’s safe to say things are going well for the Americana-loving five piece. Indeed so popular is their sun-kissed brand of soulful country and ‘60s-style West Coast harmonies, it has been a challenge to track Reid down. Since their acclaimed performance at Glastonbury Festival earlier this summer, the West London guitar band have rarely had a day off.

“On Friday I flew to Scotland for an hour,” Reid laughs, recounting his fleeting visit to Belladrum’s Tartan Heart Festival. “We flew to Inverness, played for half an hour, then came straight back to play Standon Calling.

“It’s mad but things are going well.”

Known to Oxfordshire music fans as a regular fixture at Truck festival, in Steventon, and other local venues, Treetop Flyers (and Reid’s former band Morrison Steam Fair) have come from humble beginnings to one of the country’s best, and certainly hardest-working, bands.

I first met Reid while he was busking for small change, or possibly just laughs, on Oxford’s Cowley Road after a gig. He gave up politely, with just £2 in a paper cup, after being asked to be quiet by someone living above a shop. Since then, this artist, who as a fledgling star made waves with his anthem Busker’s Day Out, has well and truly hit the big time. Together with drummer Tomer Danan, guitarist and backing singer Sam Beer, guitarist Laurie Sherman and bassist Matthew Starritt, he has played Glastonbury twice (the first time being personally selected by Michael Eavis after winning the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition), ripped up South by South West in Texas, and went on before Bob Dylan at the Hop Farm in Kent. This year they returned to Truck where they were hailed by many as the highlight of the festival.

“We have come a long way,” says Reid. “It’s hard to take in what has happened. “The best thing was signing record deals here and in America. We like it over there and they like us.

“We play country and bluegrass and have an authentically West Coast American sound despite not coming from the canyons. It can confuse them, and it’s interesting seeing their reaction.

“But we also draw on British rock and other influences, like Fairport Convention, jazz and psychedelia – in fact anything with a groove. Our influences are eclectic and that comes across.

“We also perfectly fit the Americans’ idea of an English band. “After all, look how popular Mumford & Sons have become by taking their sound, making it poppy and selling it back to them. And we were doing it way before the Mumfords!”

So what have been his Treetop Flying highlights so far? “Well it was very rock & roll playing Glastonbury this year,” he says. “It’s what dreams are made of and was one of the best gigs of the summer.

“We were slick and tight from playing for weeks before, and finished with time to spare so had an extended jam session, which went down brilliantly.”

This weekend the band play Wilderness Festival. And while the music will be as lively as last year’s show, Reid is hoping the crowd aren’t quite as raucous.

“Last year was pretty crazy,” he laughs. “Some guy climbed on stage and went flying head-first through the drum kit. That’s what makes festivals cool, but I hope nothing like that happens again!

“Wilderness is a cracking festival though. We’ve been every year and there’s a really cool vibe. “When we’ve stopped playing, it’ll be a nice place to relax and let ourselves go for a change.”

  • LIVE Treetop Flyers play Wilderness at Cornbury Park, Charlbury, on Sunday – appearing on the man stage and band stand. Tickets have now sold out