Joe Keefe: vocals, guitar
Sebastian Keefe: drums, vocals, guitar
James Buckey: guitar
Christina Schroeter: keyboards
Meredith Sheldon: vocals, guitar
Farley Glavin: bass
Channeling Fleetwood Mac’s musical stylings with a hint of late-era Beatles, Family of the Year braid catchy melodies, stellar male/female vocals and personal folk tales to create some of the happiest and saddest music you’ve ever heard. The band’s classic musical style has been integrated with a modern fanbase that the band continues to create and release new music for.
Family of the Year self-released their debut EP Where’s the Sun on their Washashore imprint in September 2009. The EP showcases a variety of Family’s music, and includes "Let's Go Down," "Castoff," "Summer Girl," "What a Surprise," and "Psyche or Like Scope." Where’s the Sun is available for digital download at FamilyoftheYear.net for an optional donation. Contributions went directly toward the release of the band’s debut full-length album.
In October, Family was handpicked out of 700 artists by Ben Folds and Keith Lockhart to open for Ben and The Boston Pops at Symphony Hall. Shortly after, the band flew west for California shows with Bell X1 before returning east for the CMJ Music Marathon, marking Family Of The Year’s New York debut. SPIN.com selected the band as one 25 Must-Hear Artists from the 2009 CMJ Festival.
In November, Family hit the road with Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros in support of Family’s debut album, Songbook, also available for optional donation. In January the band announced the release of an exclusive song every month through their e-mail list in 2010 as well as a new EP set for March.
Singers Joe Keefe and Meredith Sheldon blend seamless harmonies in the Beach Boys-esque ballad, “Summer Girl,” while “Stupidland” and “Let’s Go Down” are upbeat, catchy folk tunes. Crossing boundries, the band's forthcoming EP will not only feature the traditional Family sound, but will also include "The Barn," a synth-heavy rock song, as well as "The Princess and the Pea," which embodies a laid-back yet catchy reggae sound.
Like most American families, FOTY come from all over. Brothers Joe and Sebastian Keefe grew up in Wales before staking their claim as locals on the rustic country island Martha’s Vineyard, where they grew up with Meredith Sheldon and Farley Glavin. Christina Schroeter is a misfit of Orange County, CA while across the country southern gentleman James Buckey grew up in Jacksonville, FL.
Musical veterans Joe, Seb, James, and Farley enjoyed local Boston success in their raw rock ensemble Unbusted. Farley and the Keefe brothers switched gears when they created the up-tempo indie-pop band The Billionaires, while James pursued a career in sound engineering. Christina, who spent five years of her childhood trying to weasel out of piano lessons, recently resigned from an entertainment PR firm, where she often rushed clients down red carpets before heading to band practice. Meredith is an accomplished singer and guitarist, and has toured with Ben Taylor as a backup vocalist.
The boys and Christina met in LA, and Meredith moved from Martha's Vineyard to complete the ensemble. But even when they're not practicing, you can bet that this tight-knit group are hanging out. Whether it’s playing board games at the practice space or mellow nights sitting by the backyard fire pit over a jug of wine, FOTY truly consider each other family.
"I'd never heard anything like them before. They were so eclectic in the music choices, something like a combination of folk indie rock and the Beach Boys. I was fascinated. They were [Ben Folds’] favorite, too."
-Keith Lockhart, Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra
“A collective that's equally comfortable harmonizing on '70s-style Hollywood Hills piano rock as it is churning out urgent, high-tech indie pop.” --SPIN.com
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