The Broken Family Band | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Cambridge, England, UK |
Genres | Indie rock, new wave, country rock, alternative country |
Years active | 2002–2009 |
Labels |
Cooking Vinyl The Track & Field Organisation Snowstorm Harvest Time |
Associated acts | The Singing Adams Singing Adams Steven James Adams |
Members |
Steven James Adams Jay Williams Gavin Johnson Mick Roman |
The Broken Family Band was a British rock band from Cambridge and London.
The band was formed in Cambridge, England by Steven Adams, Jay Williams, Micky Roman and Gavin Johnson in 2001, following the break-up of Adams and Williams’ indie rock band Hofman. Their musical style has variously been referred to as alt country, country rock, new wave, and indie-rock (the latter term being favoured by the band).
Originally formed "for fun" and to play irregular shows at their local pub and record one album, the band were encouraged by friends to perform support slots in London. After appearing on a bill with The Walkmen, they were signed to indie label Snowstorm, for which they recorded one mini album ‘The King Will Build A Disco’ and their first full-length album ‘Cold Water Songs’, both of which featured guest appearances from Samantha Parton from The Be Good Tanyas, Martin Green from Lau, Inge Thomson from Harem Scarem and Owen Turner from Magoo. Both records received an excellent critical response, as well bringing the group to the attention of John Peel, who had them record two sessions.
Following a trip to South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, the band moved to The Track & Field Organisation record label, for which they recorded the mini album Jesus Songs (which includes a cover of "The King Of Carrot Flowers Part 2" by Neutral Milk Hotel, having received permission from the song’s reclusive author Jeff Mangum), and the albums Welcome Home, Loser, Balls and Hello Love. Throughout this period the group’s reputation and fanbase increased, resulting in them performing at Glastonbury Festival, the Green Man Festival, Tanned Tin, on the main stage at Cambridge Folk Festival, in Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Ireland…