The best thing about our role for this website is coming across up and coming bands, usually by accident, First Time Flyers being one we saw at CarFest a couple of years ago. When we saw these four people performing on the small stage, next to the pub in the field, we were very impressed. And here we are after seeing them absolutely bring the house down at Brum’s Sunflower Lounge last time and doing two small sets the other week in the VIP enclosure at The Long Road Festival. We were like a dog with two tails – excited wasn’t the word.

Their new single, aptly named ‘Jump’, has recently been getting airplay on none other than Radio 2! And it should, it’s catchy, country-tinged and radio-friendly, like a lot of their songs to be honest. It’s a packed Hare & Hounds tonight, and right away, the band had them all singing and filling in the “whoa ha whoas” without too much persuasion, and you could tell that the band were loving the fact that on a drizzly Tuesday night in Brum, it was a sell-out. No surprise to us, these four people all have great voices, that’s the strength they have, each taking lead at some point in the night.

Apart from the songs we already know and love, they did a small acoustic set, and threw in some songs that were new, even one, ‘We Run’, that they not only haven’t performed live but only done three times in the rehearsal! And it was a cracker. In fact, all the new stuff was very very good. A fan favourite, ‘Forget You’, was treated to a very bluesy first verse, before erupting into the fast-paced song we know, it was sublime. This band is gathering momentum, and if there is any justice, next year will be immense for this talented band. And the Jump Tour Part 1? Well, a little birdy tells me Part 2 will be in the new year, so if you aren’t luck enough to catch them on this small headline tour, make sure that you right this next time. We can’t wait, and neither should you. Watch this band FLY – see what we did there?

Photos by Geoff Griffe
Review by Jenny Griffe