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Artist Website: www.fredtheband.com
About Fred
FRED began life as a hobby for three teenage lads (Jamie, Emmett and Liam) from Tralee, Co. Kerry. A move to Cork city for college saw FRED grow to a six-piece as the lads recruited three Corkonians Joseph, Justin and Eibhilin.
After a series of fitful stops, starts and misadventures FRED launched themselves in earnest with the release of their debut album æCanÆt Stop IÆm Being TimedÆ (2002). Released independently with no proper distribution or coordinated PR push, FRED were overwhelmed by the response to it. Their hard work and reputation as one of the most exciting live bands in the country helped them to sell over 2000 copies.
Their string of achievements based on this first tentative step was remarkable by any standards. The press response was glowing. They received airplay on all the national Radio stations (highlights being performing live on both Tom DunneÆs Pet Sounds and The John Creedon Show on Radio 1). They also made their first appearances on TV (RTE 2Æs ID, TG4Æs Cula 4). The record was described in the print media as æWonderfulÆ æAmazingÆ and ÆSuperbÆ.
Their reputation on the live performance scene also went from strength to strength after the release of their first record, with the highlights including two successful tours of Central Europe, as well as filling the Witnness Rising tent to heaving point at the Witnness Festival in the Summer of 2003.
Different commitments forced a line-up change in summer 2003. So as Emmett and Liam departed, Jamin OÆDonovan from Limerick was drafted in. One man to replace two is an onerous task indeed, but OÆDonovan rose to the challenge admirably and FRED have become the tight knit five piece they are today.
Musically they acknowledge such legends as Sly Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, and The Beach Boys as well as tipping their hat to such contemporaries as Wilco and The Flaming Lips.
[source:fredtheband.com]
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