Moonrakers are one of the understated gems of the Oxfordshire folk scene. On a frosty February night, they launched their new album I Am the Mountain to a packed St Peter’s Church in Wolvercote, Oxford. The band’s musicianship was palpable from the outset. Jacqui Johnson’s cello added anchoring bass lines, rhythmic drive, atmospheric textures, and beautiful solos. Becki Luff’s ethereal harp brought a strong Celtic colour, and Sarah Fell’s exquisite vocals and harmonies were a joy. Her reassuring, happy presence created a great on-stage chemistry with Jon Bennett whose singing, guitar, bouzouki and rarefied whistle were measured and thoughtful throughout.

The opening ‘Rake the Moon’ offered an upbeat introduction to the origin of the band’s name, while ‘Jenny Nettle’s Reel’ showcased a superb duet between cello and harp. ‘Two Sisters’, a classic cautionary folk tale, included some deft melodic interjections and tricks beneath Sarah’s steadfast vocal. Always alert to a good story, Jon recalled his grandmother’s old tin bath in Stoke-on-Trent in a wartime tale from ‘Ronson Avenue’, with Jacqui’s accordion adding warmth to the thoughtful vocal — we were all there with him.

‘Sickle Moon’ was a beautifully atmospheric blend of instruments with Sarah’s soulful voice. A fresh treatment of the title track, ‘I Am the Mountain’, sat comfortably alongside ‘Hark, Hark’, Jon’s update of an ancient rhyme for modern times.

This was a warm, accomplished album launch from a band that continues to deepen not only the sophistication of its sound but also its storytelling.