From Down Under To Nashville: The French Family Band's Musical Journey includes Saluda, NC, pop. 700

[@3cardmonty602]

I’ve been watching them from the pandemic too. Love them.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

It is amazing how people have discovered The French Family Band. They just "appeared" in my KZbin feed one day and from then on I was hooked. I got to see them at the Opry at their debut in March 2023. Check out an interview video I did with a different kind of family band, The Biscuit Eaters. They're amazing...especially if you keep in mind their ages and the music they play: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@williamsonmunier]

Was privileged to meet Stuie and speak with him for a couple minutes recently at a Brothers of the Heart show. Not only is 1945 a great song, but he and Camille posted one that they did for his mom that he told me was the first one they wrote together, Beverly Joy. Both are so moving and so tender. It is rare to find folks who honor their parents so beautifully. I first saw them in some of Jimmy Fortune's Jimmy Jams, also during the pandemic. So happy that decent entertainment like this can be growing today.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

I "kind of" met them when they performed in Saluda (NC), where I filmed some of their performances. I would love to interview them one day. They are a great band and so nice to see a family like this. Thanks so much for watching and for leaving a comment. Here's a video I made last fall after interviewing "The Biscuit Eaters." They are a family bluegrass band. If you like bluegrass, you'll love this family. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@beverlysimons4551]

Love this family! I started following them during the pandemic. I found them one night jamming with Ben Issacs, Jimmy Fortune, and Mike Rogers. Sonny has grown up so fast! Thank you for sharing! I lived in Saluda for quite a few years. Brought back sweet memories!

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

That's so cool you used to live in Saluda. Small world. I live 15 minutes away down in Columbus. I love this family as well. Amazing musicians. If you like to see other kids perform, check out my video about "The Biscuit Eaters." It's mostly an interview, but they do perform during the video. This group consists of 5 kids (ages 5-14) and mom & dad. They're a family bluegrass band and were performing this fall at the Earl Scruggs Music Festival held at the Equestrian Center in Mill Spring. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@TheMikeWaddell]

This is a very well-produced video presentation. I too, have been following the French Family Band since the beginning of the Pandemic. Thank you very much.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Thanks so much for taking a look and for commenting on the video. Check out "The Biscuit Eaters." They're another family band with young kids playing a different kind of music: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@archaprice3372]

I also found the French Family Band during the pandemic. They are so talented!

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

@@archaprice3372 They did a great job of finding an audience from their living room. That's pretty hard to do. Check out this video I did with another family band, "The Biscuit Eaters." It's a mom & dad and five kids ages 5 to 14. They're amazing. Thanks for watching. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@glennstrangemagic]

I too, am a fan of the French Family Band. Like you, I discovered them when they were doing their KZbin in-home concerts. Thank you for featuring them.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Wow. That's cool. You and only one other person I know has actually heard of them. The next time they appear locally, maybe you'll want to see them. I was just blown away that they were playing in Saluda.

[@dianeheck6538]

Good sound. I enjoyed this family band.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

They do have a good sound. I like them a lot. Now I'll just have to wait until they come back to my area. I was just floored to find out they were playing in Saluda. It was fun. Thanks for watching and for leaving your comment.

[@GracieandJacqsAdventures]

Once again Mark, you have introduced us to a wonderful, musical family! Thanks!!!!

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Thanks Gracie. I was excited to get to see their debut in Nashville....and couldn't believe it when I saw them on the schedule to play in our small town of Saluda. I hope they'll come down again. I appreciate your watching and leaving your comments. I loved that van tour I saw a week or so ago. Can't wait to see the van and YOU and Jacq in person.

[@GracieandJacqsAdventures]

I will get my spot reserved through harvest host and loon forward to seeing you in Oct!

[@virtualdigidon]

This is a great compilation and tribute to the French Family Band, and introduction to those who haven't heard them before.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Thanks so much for taking a look...and for leaving a comment. Are you a French Family Band follower? I really enjoy the variety of music they play.

[@virtualdigidon]

@@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark Yes I found them not until early 2023 I think. After discovering them I back-watched their live Covid home liveshows, Australian documentaries, etc. I love their story and their music, and appreciate their strong family values.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

@@virtualdigidon Here's another family band I had the pleasure of seeing at the Earl Scruggs Music Festival. Five kids, mom & dad. They play bluegrass. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@PearlgraceandCoMusic]

Yes! A very neat video- impressive channel!

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

@@PearlgraceandCoMusic Thanks folks. I really appreciate that.

[@omercormier4907]

A great family,followed them during the pandemic ,great music .Thanks for posting.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Thanks so much. I'm glad that first video of theirs showed up in my feed back during the pandemic. I appreciate that you took your time to watch my video and to include a comment. Here's another family band I interviewed last September. Different genre of music, but another excellent band: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@GoodGravyProduction]

Great job Mark Levin! You did a fantastic feature on this wonderful band. We love you and The French Family Band.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Thanks friend. It's "fantastic" only because I have professionals telling the story. I just pieced it together. I appreciate taking your time to watch and to post a comment.

[@maggieeslinger2782]

Thanks for the share. I've been following them for three years. Sonny and Parker are also shared by Bob Flowers busking at Pucketts

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Thanks so much for watching. They are amazing musicians. So talented. If you like bluegrass music, check out my interview with "The Biscuit Eaters." They are also a family band and very talented - but much younger! kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@chrise438]

Thank you for sharing this. Love them, and hope to see and meet them some day!

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Thanks for taking a look. They are an amazing family. I haven't "officially" met them, though I exchanged a couple of sentences with them when they were in Saluda. Here's another family band you might like. They play a different kind of music, but they are definitely talented. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k I hope you'll consider subscribing to my channel. Thanks again for watching and for leaving a comment.

[@billmadle1235]

Amazing, I follow them too.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Thanks for taking a look and for leaving a comment. If you like good music and family bands, check out an interview I did with "The Biscuit Eaters." They're a family bluegrass band from Lowgap, North Carolina. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@WayneChurchill-zd3pm]

Great spirit show

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Thanks so much for taking a look and for leaving a comment.

[@RedDirtRules]

Been following the French Family Band for years. You may want to check out their earlier group The Ferel Swing Katz

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

I'm not sure how that original song from their living room ended up in my KZbin selections, but that's when I started following them. Of course since then I've seen some of the videos from Australia...but this is the first time I've seen them performing as "The Feral Swing Katz." One a funny name...but as expected - incredible musicians. Thanks for letting me know. And thanks for checking out my video and for leaving your comment.

[@PearlgraceandCoMusic]

What a neat band! Just learned of them today- neat video too! Just found your channel today shortly after we posted a song called Country. Thanks for this great content-- we love the family bands!🎻

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Thanks for watching and for leaving your comment. I appreciate both. I checked out your YT channel and your website. I just subscribed. You folks are incredible musicians! I couldn't figure out where you're from. If you're anywhere in my area (foothills of NC, 45 miles SE of Asheville), perhaps I could do a video about you? I do the videos just for fun and bounce around from topic to topic. It's not a way to be a KZbin "star," but I don't need a job and I don't care to turn YT into one. Since you are a fan of family bands, check out this video I did last September with "The Biscuit Eaters." Thanks again and hopefully our paths will cross. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@richardgullison9980]

One of my favourite bands! Thanks for putting this together!! Rich/Pinto Creek Ranch/Alberta/ Canada

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Thanks Rich. I appreciate your comment and that you found my video way up in Alberta. Here's another family band that might become one more favorite band on your list - "The Biscuit Eaters." kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@nashvilletennessee3194]

Thanks for making the video and editing it exclamation point I to discover the prince family band during the Covid lockdowns, except that I was a trucker out on the highway, listening to their videos all through it. Just had to be at their debut at the Grandel Opry as well, and I indeed was there!

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

Thanks for finding my video, for watching it, and for leaving a comment. Small world that you were there for the debut as well. It was fun. If they ever come down to Saluda again, I'm hoping I can get ten minutes with them to do a short interview. Here's a video interview I did with another famliy band, The Biscuit Eaters. They play a completely different type of music (old time & bluegrass). What's amazing is how young the kids are and how talented they are. Thanks again for finding my channel. Biscuit Eaters: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@willylopez954]

In the Netherlands I didn't grow up with this kind of music. I am more into Eric Clapton type guitar music and Blues music. By the way, I did like that movie "Oh, Brother". I found it interesting that they came all the way from Australia and admire their success in Nashville because even I know that's a big deal! I also watched the little video of you taking an Uber to go for he first time to the Grand Ole Opry. I was puzzled at first that a French family found their way to Australia and then to the States, until I realized their last name is French. That they came to Saluda NC , such a small town, must have been a big surprise for you. I guess I need a coach to teach me how to appreciate this kind of music more and learn all the nuances and difficulties to be able to love it like all you country music fans do. What I do see though is that they seem to have fun playing together and in such a relaxed way. I understand that these families often sing and play their various instruments at home just for their own entertainment and the youngsters grow up hearing this from birth. It becomes a second nature with them. It's as if they invite us ,the audience, into their living room to spend some time with them and relax. And that impression I like a lot.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

I'm sure all music is an acquired taste. There's definitely music I don't like and music I love. As long as music isn't played overly loud...I usually enjoy it. I also love music where I can understand the lyrics. The French Family Band perform musics that covers a lot of genres: some country, some swing, cowboy, and more. It's very listenable. The folks in the audience were mostly retired folks, and they all seemed to enjoy it a lot. Almost all of them, just like me, were introduced to The French Family Band by stumbling on their KZbin videos. And yep, I can see why their last name could throw you off your guessing game as to why they're from Australia.

[@stevo68]

We don't see enough of Chet and Manaia.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

I think they said Manaia had a volleyball tournament. They needed her to man the merch table. They mentioned Chet, but I can't remember what they said about him. Yeah, you don't see either of them very often. Here's a video about a different family band, The Biscuit Eaters. They're pretty amazing themselves: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYnRZZykfKeeZ9k

[@barrybookhouse]

15 miles away. You could have enjoyed dinner with them.

[@TheCountryLifewithColumbusMark]

I did have dinner with them. But they didn't know it. They were having their pre-show dinner somewhere around back. This was the same place where we had Bobbie's little luncheon last October. I did ask them how they ended up making it to Saluda. They said they just got the invite to come perform and decided, "Why not?" On the Sunday night shows, the restaurant moves out all the tables (except for a few in the back) and sets the chairs up performance style. It was a packed house, meaning maybe 100 folks tops. They serve dinner pre-show in the outside seating area where we were. It was a good night. I hope they'll be back.