Stornoway's debut album Beachcomber'Windowsill, driven by the infectious single Zorbing propelled Stornoway into the mainstream consciousness with critics linking them to a wider folk-pop revival, and placing them alongside bands such as Mumford and sons and Fleet Foxes.

It would be easy to assume, after achieving such fame on a debut release, that the hype came easily for Stornoway. But, in reality, the band had been playing and perfecting many of the songs that would later appear on their album as early as 2005 in half-empty dingy basement clubs around Oxford.

Having followed the band to many of these early gigs, it came as a surprise to me to see just how packed Oxford Brookes' Student Union was.

On a selfish level, the sheer volume of people and the frequent shouts for Zorbing to be played clashed with the image that I held dear of Stornoway as a quaint unassuming Oxford band singing about Cowley Road, South Park and Jericho - places that held a personal significance to me.

I never considered them 'folk', and for me their charm and appeal always lay in the simple honesty of their songs.

These include songs such as I Saw You Blink and Boats and Trains, which deal with love and relationships with an innocence that makes it impossible not to smile.

Their songs had you dancing one minute and quietly melancholy the next. But they were always tinged with feelings of nostalgia, all the more poignant for people from Oxford.

For me this gig demonstrated that Stornoway have lost some of their charm.

They seemed to be less sure of their own music than before.

Their collaboration with The Keyboard Choir seemed forced and out of character while their increasing use of violins, cellos and double basses, while perhaps contributing to the folk image which has been thrust upon them, detracted from their raw, emotive pop sound.

The highlight of their set was certainly the unplugged version of End of the Movie, which succeeded in drawing the otherwise lively crowd to a hush. And it was beautiful.

However, the band have lost their naive, even nervous demeanour that accompanied them in their early gigs, and for me this means they are also losing some of their appeal.

However, as I have been aware of Stornoway far longer than most, they no longer have a novelty value for me and I find the honesty in their records less refreshing than I once did.

So I am jealous of new fans of the band who have just discovered their charming nostalgia-inducing acoustic pop.

Finally, i would advise fans to check out Stornoway's support, former Oxford favourites Foxes!, who after relocating to Brighton continue to play their quirky power-pop of the same ilk as Of Montreal and Dum Dum Girls.