THE PHOENIX
Hatched and raised in Poland she began singing at an early age and eventually trained as a classical singer. Later, while studying music at university, she joined a seven-piece band called Elipsa, going on to become their main singer-songwriter. However, she soon abandoned her musical ambitions by surrendering to her overpowering desire to travel around the world - eventually arriving in England in 2004.
After a decade of silence, her desire for creating music & performing was re-ignited. She specialized in French Chansons and at the same time working on her original music (singing, playing the piano, hammered dulcimer, guitar and the drums). She recorded her first album 'Beauty & Power' in 2015, and the 2nd one 'Love & Light' in 2018, both with her producer, the Heron. She has performed at many festivals and gatherings in the UK and Poland. Visit her website: https://www.magdalenaatkinson.co.uk/
THE HERON
has been working as a musician since the Sixties. He was the keyboard player in cult folk band Heron who have enjoyed a Japanese following since the '70s. Through the Dawn label they were stable mates with Mungo Jerry, whom he joined and toured with, for 11 years or so up until 2001. His background includes blues/R&B, club pianist, rock 'n roll, folk, funk, reggae, steel band and soca.
Because of his classical training and love of the piano he also trained as a piano restorer and built a parallel career as a tuner, occasionally for some of the most famous performers in the world. When he moved to Dorset in 2001, although still playing with various bands, he set up a small studio and settled into the role of producer. He runs the original official Heron website - https://www.relaxx.co.uk/ and still manages to tickle those ivories.
THE CROW
This ‘one-man band’ has been writing and recording since the early ‘90s, and has become renowned for being the most prolific songwriter in the land after writing and recording literally hundreds of songs and instrumentals and releasing dozens of albums. His music spans many genres, but gravitates more towards rock, punk, goth, and film music.
He spent several years composing music for pilot episodes of television shows, and had a brief stint as a horror actor - during which time he even appeared on covers of magazines! This inspired him to incorporate dark theatrics into his live musical performances, and has gained him a reputation for putting on memorable shows that people still talk about years later. https://drewcrowstar.bandcamp.com/
Other than being the bass player in the Mystical Birds, and his continuing solo work, he is also a member of all-drumming/percussion band Blackdown Samba led by fellow Mystical Bird Owl!
THE OWL
As a fledgling, he couldn’t stop tapping to create a beat, much to the annoyance of his parents. As he grew older, he was always drawn to percussion, but never got the opportunity to do anything directly. As an adult, he came across a new start up samba band which he quickly joined. He soon utilised that very rhythmic brain co-leading, but quickly took over sole responsibility for teaching and leading Blackdown Samba, a band consisting of drums and percussion, playing infectious Brazilian grooves - and improvising exciting complex high-energy arrangements on the spot, with the ease of somebody who is very at home in the world of rhythm... http://www.blackdownsamba.org.uk/
Even though this was great fun and very fulfilling, especially sharing and helping others with their love of percussion, he wanted more. This is where he met Crow, who mentioned that the band he was playing in were looking for someone to play percussion (not a kit drummer). And that is where his story as a Mystical Bird began...