Meet The Frockers
Surprisingly, they really are a family! With influences of Ed Sheeran, Of Monsters and Men, First Aid Kit and Annie Lennox to name but a few, they have been delighting audiences since 2014 with their Alternative Indie-Folk vibes.
The folk roots run deep through the group, which is apparent in their style of writing and musical content. With four previous generations of professional musicians (that can be traced so far) they couldn't really do anything else.
Their emotive lyrics are supported by Sky's intricate and percussive finger style guitar, Amanda's dynamic djembe and shakers and Lorien's rhythm guitar filling in the gaps. Add some choral harmonies to the mix, that can only be achieved with relatives, and you have The Fireside Family.
The folk roots run deep through the group, which is apparent in their style of writing and musical content. With four previous generations of professional musicians (that can be traced so far) they couldn't really do anything else.
Their emotive lyrics are supported by Sky's intricate and percussive finger style guitar, Amanda's dynamic djembe and shakers and Lorien's rhythm guitar filling in the gaps. Add some choral harmonies to the mix, that can only be achieved with relatives, and you have The Fireside Family.
Photo by John Charles Thomas
Lorien
Lorien grew up surrounded by musicians - that's what you get when you're born into a family in the entertainment industry. Small wonder then that she's been a singer her whole life, joining in with her family at every major concert they did - albeit from backstage! She co-writes the songs with Amanda and Sky, and adds dynamic harmonies and sensitive finger-style guitar work to the mix. She took lead writing on "Swenio" and "Anyway" on their album "The Fireside Family" released in 2018.
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Amanda
Amanda studied classical music, and passed her grade 5 singing with honours at fifteen, after three months intense training of a two-year syllabus. She has been a singer from the age of two, starting with her Mum and Dad (The Embers Folk Duo) specialising in harmonies. Her first paid gig was when she was nine. She went on to be an integral part of their family group: "Dragonfly". She was one of the founder members of "TEAR", a folk/rock band that included Lorien and Sky's father Trevor Jones, Michelle Brisa-Gimenez (Dirty Lions), Paul "Stav" Skelton, Tim Connell and Jethro Baker (Buster Shuffle) and culminated in a four-track EP called "What's it all For?" (1998). TEAR parted ways in 1999 and Amanda worked on her own solo EP "Audio Alchemy" in 2001. After a 12-year break, to raise the kids, she's back as co-songwriter, singer and percussionist.
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Sky
Lead guitarist Sky has been surrounded by music his whole life. Picking up a guitar for the first time at the age of six, he didn't really pursue it until he was twelve. Having been taught banjo picks and finger-style by his grandfather, Sky has gone on to add variations on a theme! He co-writes the songs with Amanda and Lorien, adding his unique flair, beautiful style and quality lead breaks! He took the lead with lyric writing on the song "Why I'm Wrong" on their eponymous album released in 2018.
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The Extended Family
Jim
Drummer Jim Eliott is the rhythmical glue of The Fireside Family. Having grown up in the Isle of Wight folk scene, his first pub gig was at the age of fourteen. He was signed to Holistic Records and toured the UK with ambient dub band "Delta T". After having some national airplay with "The Hopper Ward", he did the festival circuit as a V.J (Videographer Journalist) for world music band "The Angel Brothers and Satnam Singh". He has toured Wales extensively with comedy music group "Popty Ping". Now, he works as an animator, making short clay-mation films and is currently playing with "The Briars", "Two-Bit Yodel" and performing solo as "Jim Somniac".
Reviews
- "Their track started off where you could hear a pin drop but by the end of the performance you were up standing almost on the seats...Just an incredible set from some incredible musicians
Andrew Marston BBC Introducing Hereford and Worcester 2020
"Wales' best kept secret... you'll love these guys! Not to be missed!
Cinema & Co. Swansea 2018
"These guys are fantastic - Great harmonies, lovely understated playing and wonderful songs. If you get a chance to watch them, take it! You won't be disappointed."
Michael Kennedy, Welsh Connections 2018
"Awesome, Awesome, AWESOME ... Top of the shop, the mesmerizing and engaging Fireside Family! Great songs... Harmonies resulting in bodyshivering emotions, energising and magical guitar... A theatrical performance both memorable and stunning to watch."
Lazarus Carpenter, founder of Lazzmatazz Festival 2018
"Nice taste of what's to come"
Chris TTS, Totally Radio reviewing "Swenio" 2018
"The Fireside family live session at www.brfm.co.uk was quite simply enchanting. Aside from the Copper family I can't think of a family band that manages to... sing and play at that level. They entranced us with brilliant... harmonies - at times extremely complex and technically difficult- and their choice of material was by turns refreshing and traditional. The guitar work was sensitive and effective and the a capella numbers were to die for. This was folk music at it's finest. The very best part is that they now all live in Wales so let the dragon roar!"
Dan James BRFM 2013
