Fred Sokolow
BIOGRAPHY
From Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, The Floyd Family Breakdown delve into the country music heartland to dish up their down home jambalaya of music.
A rollicking rootsy string band with inklings of alt country and old school country, with heartfelt originals, a truckload of instruments & hillbilly to boot, you’ll wanna sing along, holler, dance and shout.
Floyds built their foundations in early post-war, pre-rock’n’roll inspired vocal and authentic sounding instrumentation, but pride themselves on versatility, switching sounds and styles seamlessly with the help of acoustic guitars, dobro, mandolin, banjo, double bass and fiddle.
With a stack of musical experience between them, founding members Paula Hackney and Andrew Palmer have been working the floorboards since January 2014, writing songs, finding their own sound, recruiting band members, gigging solidly and recording their first album. The family is now complete with Tony Moore on double bass and Chris Gillespie on fiddle and guest players.
The successful release of the Floyd’s first single “Hole In My Shoe”, included radio play and the music video premiered by Rhythms Magazine. Their debut album “Country Perk” will be launched on April 28th at The Black Bear Lodge followed by a South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales tour.
Paula Hackney, Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar: Paula loves a strummin’ and a hollerin’ and writing songs with The Floyds! The band is a melting pot of her favourite country music styles, where she can dish up that high lonesome hillbilly sound, get sassy with country swing or hallelujah with some country gospel. Cutting her teeth in garage swampy country bands, teaching swing dancing and ukulele – Paula’s right at home as the Floyd matriarch driving that rhythm, keeping those hillbilly kin-folk in line and spreading good cheer.
Andrew Palmer, Multi-instrumentalist: Andrew loves nothing more than getting the old mandolin, banjo, dobro or guitars out for a twang or bang depending on the mood. He is one of the bands main songwriters, with hillbilly harmonies as a side order to the main course. He worked on the railroads in the 80’s playing in The Colours to the good folk in the port of Brisbane, then lured into the seedy world of jazz n blues with Midnight Syndicate, and recently with country folk band The Casuarinas, before rediscovering his true hillbilly spirit with The Floyd Family Breakdown.
Tony Moore, Double Bass: Merle loves slappin’ and thumpin’ that double bass to the Floyd’s favourite tunes and a hootin’ and a hollerin’ as they swing along, my word he does. Tony cut his teeth playing with DogFishcatBird and This Five Minutes many long years ago, and now also with folk jazz band Yellow Bird.
Chris Gillespie, Fiddle: Chris is bit of a wiz on the fiddle. He’s been playing since he was a mere twig of a lad. When not wooing the crowd with hot fiddle lines in the Floyds, Chris can be heard playing with internationally renowned gypsy jazz ensemble Vino Veritas.
PROMOTIONAL BLURBS FOR MARKETING Short blurb: An infectious sounding string band with inklings of alt country, old time and roots. With authentic originals, a truckload of instruments & hillbilly to boot, you’ll wanna sing along, dance’n’shout.
Long blurb: The Floyd Family Breakdown’s music is infectious, uplifting, and you’ll want to holler ‘n’ shout, tap those feet or get up and dance! Blending their favourite sounds of the past, the Floyd’s are a string band with an edge, perching on the realm of alt country, old time and roots. With endearing vocals and a truck load of instruments – acoustic guitars, mandolin, dobro, banjo, double bass and fiddle; the Floyd’s can really get the joint jumpin’.
PROMOTIONAL IMAGES A selection of high res images can be downloaded from this link
SOCIAL MEDIA /WEB LINKS
Website
BandCamp
Youtube
MUSIC
Single “Hole In My Shoe” from the upcoming album “Country Perk”. (Official Film Clip).
“Hole In My Shoe” (single MP3)
For the “Country Perk” album sampler – email Paula Hackney for a link
BOOKINGS/INQUIRIES Management / Paula Hackney /
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