The Old Country Crows are pleased to announce that Josh Hayward and Bryan Orwell have joined the band. On bass guitar duties is young gunslinger Josh and Bryan, well known to the band for his contributions to the recorded output joins on keyboards.

Josh Hayward will bring youthful energy to the band. His musical career began at the age of15. As Josh recalls: " I picked up a bass guitar and became a member of a youth centre music group called the LA Music Club based at the Louis Armstrong in Dover. It had a diverse group of young, upcoming musicians who got together and jammed. I teamed up with a guitarist and drummer forming a blues rock trio covering classic sixties to modern day songs playing popular venues including the Leas Cliff Hall , Folkestone and Faversham Hop Festival. We also wrote original material, bringing out a mini album. After 6 yrs the band split up and i went on a hiatus generally doing a gig every so often, until a little while later i joined a jazz-blues 6-piece band named After Dark. We played vintage classics by artists who deserved more recognition than they initially received. But now my focus is on The Old Country Crows and i am looking forward to being part of a great band and getting to play some top festivals and venues."
Josh joins the Crows following the departure of Tim Geer last summer. The band was greatly assisted during that period by several bass guitarists to help fulfil the busy schedule and sincere thanks go to Graham Parker, Joe Himbury, Josh Pike and Neil Anzani for stepping up in difficult circumstances.

The Crows are also delighted to announce that keyboardist Bryan Orwell, who has played on many recordings by the band over the years and recently performed with them in 2024 at the Invisible Highway launch show staged at The Lighthouse, Deal and a headline spot at Sandwich Folk and Ale Festival, is to join the band on a full-time basis. Bryan is a top musician and has always had one foot in Crowsville. He will help the band expand their sound and to recreate what he played on the recorded material.
Bryan has the following to say about his career. "I started playing in bands at secondary school and have never really stopped since then, in bands in Sheffield and Kent. I’ve been a piano/keyboard player in more fine local bands than I can count and have depped for over thirty bands in the county since the 1990s. I’ve played in a variety of keyboard styles in four genre-specific tribute bands performing material by Pink Floyd, Rod Stewart, Peter Green and Bob Dylan at theatre level.Â
I like to write and record my own material.  I have a downloadable album called ‘ReallyBrown’ and I’m thrilled that it still sells! Â
 I’m very happy that some of my own tracks from that album have been scrutinised and used as dance examination syllabus pieces around the world through the IDTA.  They dance to my rhythm!
I was very pleased to be asked to play keyboards at three headlining gigs by British Blues veterans NINE BELOW ZERO twice at the Astor Theatre in Deal and also at the Broadstairs Blues Bash. Â
I was equally happy to be invited to record again recently with The Old Country Crows and i am now looking forward to playing these songs which i really enjoy out there live on stage."
As well as playing at the Invisible Highway Launch Show in 2024 Bryan was also with the band for the launch show of the band's self-titled debut album back in 2013 when the show was staged at the Fox Inn, Dover, Kent. In fact Bryan has contributed playing parts to various tracks on all of the band's albums and EP's apart from the Another Christmas Song EP from 2017.

The new-look Crows have been hard at work in the rehearsal room over the past few weeks as Josh and Bryan get down to work on the songs and the early signs are that something special is building. The band cannot wait to get back out on the road and the Crows look forward to meeting up once again with their wonderful support. See y'all back out there on the invisible highway very soon!

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