In Capital News, Australia’s premier country music magazine, Susan Jarvis’s review of ‘Demons & Dreamers’ says this – “…it’s an exquisitely crafted piece of work, filled with powerful, moving songs with melodies that either enhance the lyrics, or act as a discordant counterpoint to them. Every song on the album is superb and deserves forensic listening and reflection.”

‘Demons & Dreamers’ was released in early 2025, and the singles from the album have enjoyed great support from Australian radio, particularly ABC Radio and its country music programs. The single ‘Lightning Strike’ received strong radio support in the UK and Europe, reaching no.8 in the Hot Disc Country Music chart in that part of the world.

Reviewers, critics, friends and followers ask the question – where do the songs come from? The band answers collectively – songs can come from anywhere. From adventures, from history, from matters of the heart. Most of the songs on ‘Demons & Dreamers’ come from the imagination of writer Steve Tyson. Little pieces of fiction, other peoples’ made-up stories. But perhaps inspired by the real world and lives well-lived. 

Tyson was listening to The Delines and the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss collaboration when the songs from ‘Demons & Dreamers’ started to evolve. Also on high rotation on his car’s CD player was early Joe Tex, and Albert King. 

Growing up in the Australian city Brisbane at the time of the notorious Fitzgerald Inquiry into corruption, he played gigs in clubs run by petty gangsters and bent cops. The characters that frequented those venues provided plenty of lyrical fodder for these songs written many years later. Add in those musical influences and the end result is a set of alt.country tunes laced with the blues, tinged with soul, and informed by folk music. 

Tony Smith, in Trad & Now magazine, said this …'Perhaps our dreams sustain us when demons are at their worst. In any case, Keeping North have tackled both themes fearlessly.'

Tyson has long been regarded as an important songwriter in the Australian landscape, critically acclaimed for his solo work. Said respected critic Noel Mengel (former chief music writer for the Courier Mail), ’these are songs that are built to last. Powerful, passionate songcraft that is worthy of your time.'

In early 2026, Tyson began introducing the band to a new set of songs. They came from the same place as the tunes on ‘Demons & Dreamers’ but needed fresh interpretation. Guitarist Ian ‘Sal’ Shawsmith and drummer Stu Hoffman played in those clubs years earlier, and knew where the songs were coming from. Pedal steel player Jeff Spencer got it too, and again brings his expertise to the table. Paul Kucharski, originally from the USA, delivers a solid dimension to the band playing bass guitar. The fact that he is a multi-brass instrumentalist is just icing on the cake for the upcoming recording of the next album.

Jeanie McClymont brings something completely fresh to the band, with a raw, powerful edge to the voice upfront. With a background steeped in the music of Johnny Cash and Slim Dusty, she was born to sing these songs.

Of course, what it's all about, quite apart from making a record and releasing it, is hitting the stage to deliver the tunes live, adding a bunch of interesting covers with a twist along the way.

Jeanie McClymont - vocals, acoustic guitar

Ian ‘Sal’ Shawsmith – slide guitar, electric guitars

Jeff Spencer - pedal steel, dobro

Stu Hoffman - drums, vocals

Paul Kucharski – bass guitar, trumpet 

Steve Tyson - vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin, banjo