Ahead of their appearance at the Oxford Mail’s Autumn Jamboree, The Knights of Mentis tell Tim Hughes how their unique sound – and name – came about

It's late on a Tuesday evening and from the back of a North Oxford pub the sweet sounds of country-rock and bluegrass drift into the cool night air.

Inside a cottage, tucked away behind the Rose and Crown in North Parade, eight musicians pluck, bow, pick and strum their way through heartwarming tunes which ought to feel more at home on the stoop of an Appalachian mountain cabin.

Yet the band – and their self-written songs – are as Oxford as they come.

Since coming together “by happy accident,” seven years ago”, The Knights of Mentis have earned a huge following in the city, and beyond, for their honest acoustic melodies, soaring three-part harmonies and mischievous sense of fun.

And tonight, mandolin player Francis Leneghan, fiddle player Sally Baden, accordionist Jem Bourgein, double bassist Malachy O’Neill, and singers Peter Graham on guitar, Keith Birnie on banjo, and Jed Dale on lap steel, are firing on all cylinders.

The band, which usually also features harmonica player Simon Baker, are running through new songs ahead of their appearance at the Autumn Jamboree on October 25 – a night of country, rock, sun-dappled Americana and folkie loveliness curated by the Oxford Mail. The show, at the Jericho Tavern, also features country-rockers Dreaming Spires and a solo set by Stornoway’s Oli Steadman.

So who and what are The Knights of Mentis?

“Where do you start?” says Keith.

“Well, usually in the pub,” smiles Sally.

“I suppose it’s country-rock with Scottish and Irish folk, blues and roots,” says Peter. “That’s what most of us grew up listening to.”

“Most people call us Americana,” chips in Malachy.

Keith nods sagely, adding: “We play a mixture of English, American and Celtic music – as well as drum and bass.”

“And rap and hip-hop,” laughs Malachy.

“Also a bit of ‘Madchester’,” laughs Francis. He is referring to the band’s crowd-pleasing bluegrass version of the Happy Mondays’ classic Step On.

It’s a sound which has gone down well with fans everywhere from mainland Europe to the festival fields of Green Man, and Oxfordshire’s Truck, Wilderness and Cornbury – where they were joined by members of Squeeze for a late night campfire jam session and singled out by BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq Show as a “highlight of the festival”.

The band come armed with debut album New Pound Coin, recorded at the respected Evolution studio of fellow West Oxford musician and former owner of the city’s Zodiac club, Nick Moorbath, in Osney Mead. Their songs are loaded with local references, touching on Oxford characters and things they have seen around them.

As for their name? That’s a trickier issue. “We were in a situation where someone asked for a name and we went quiet,” says Peter.

Malachy nods. “No one’s really aware of how it happened.”

“We did have other names,” says Peter. “We were called Heart of Oak for a bit – because we wanted a joke folk band name – but were advised to find another name as some people didn’t think we were being serious. So we came up with Knights of Mentis.”

But why ‘Mentis’? “That came from a friend of Peter’s,” says Keith. “He’d just use it to describe anything that was ‘mental’ – which we quite like.”

“We’ve made it our own,” says Malachy. “And we try to be chivalrous too!”

So what can people expect from their live shows?

“The vegetable equivalent of bestiality,” says Sally, cryptically.

“It’s fun,” adds Malachy. “That’s the principal thing to stress.”

Keith nods. “It varies from slow ballads – to slightly less slow ballads,”

Oxford Mail:

“You can expect Appalachian folk tunes to prehistoric music – or pre-music,’ pipes in Francis to murmurs of approval.

“We are a broad church,” says Keith.

“We have graduated from being asked to play in pubs to being told not to,” says Francis.

”We used to love going into pubs and not worrying if people were listening or not,” Keith deadpans. “Now people come and tell us they love it – so we’ll probably have to break up.”

“We are perfect for pubs though, because there are no wires or electrical stuff,” says Malachy.

“Yes,” says Peter, “We are acoustic but there’s nothing to say we won’t go electric.” “Judas!”shouts Keith.

One thing they agree on, though, is that they are impossible to ignore. “At the last gig we did, someone came up and said we made them cry,” says Francis. “She was really moved.”

“Someone at the Harcourt Arms in Jericho told us it’s nice to be comfortable, but better to be free,” adds Keith with a twinkle. “But that’s because we did a song that was quite sweary.”

So what can we look forward to at the Jericho show ? “Mainly Oli Steadman and the Dreaming Spires,” grins Jed.

“There will be lots of new songs,” says Francis, more seriously.

“And people can buy the album,” hints Sally.

“We are spontaneous and actually have fun on stage,” Francis goes on – to more nods.

“You can pick up the fact we are enjoying ourselves, agrees Keith.

“Even if the songs aren’t always very happy,” says Peter. “Against people’s better will and judgement, they do end up enjoying it!”

Oxford Mail:

AUTUMN JAMBOREE

The Knights of Mentis, join Oli Steadman of Stornoway, and The Dreaming Spires for the Oxford Mail’s Autumn Jamboree at the Jericho Tavern, Walton Street, on Saturday, October 25

The night will see Dreaming Spires launch their new EP Darkest Before the Dawn – their first release since 2011's Brothers in Brooklyn (described by Q magazine as “the best country-rock debut since Big Star).

The show will also feature very special guests and is also the farewell performance of Dreaming Spires’ legendary drummer Jamie Dawson, who is  emigrating to California.

The fun takes place from 8pm to midnight.
 Tickets are £8 from wegottickets.com

Oxford Mail:

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