Miranda Sykes - vocals, double bass
Imogen O'Rourke - flute
Peter Miln - fiddle, mandolin, vocals
Daniel James - cittern, guitar, vocals
John Harris - celtic harp, mandolin, guitar, vocals

firebrand are an acoustic five piece band playing traditional and original material in a contemporary and unique style. In addition to playing music from the four corners of the British Isles, their set incorporates music from mainland Europe. All their material is arranged with sophistication and sensitivity, with many of the traditional songs and tunes being reworked to give a new vitality. Elements of jazz, classical and even funk can now be detected in their set which is played entirely on acoustic instruments.

Firebrand started life as a trio comprising Peter Miln, Daniel James and John Harris. They first performed together in December 1997, and rapidly became a highly respected act, performing at festivals, folk clubs, arts centres and venues such as the Mean Fiddler.

In 2001 the band increased their line up to a five piece, adding the talents of Miranda Sykes - one of the country’s hottest young vocalists – and flute virtuoso Imogen O’Rourke. The addition of Miranda’s vocals and bass and Imogen’s flute to the substantial array of string instruments and vocal harmonies has yielded richer textures and an altogether bigger sound.

Firebrand have recently released a new album entitled “Lost Lady Found” which is getting fantastic reviews in the folk press and proving highly popular on radio stations up and down the country. The new Firebrand line-up performed a handful of festivals and a 10 date tour to promote “Lost Lady Found“. The scope of their appeal to audiences is such that they are attracting a huge amount of interest on the folk scene. Festival organisers are queuing up to book them for 2002 and they have just signed up with Steáfán Hannigan’s booking agency.

Tracks from previous Firebrand albums have recently been used on two compilation albums – “Best of British Folk” and “A Feast of Folk” - alongside artists such as Fairport Convention, Show of Hands, The Albion Band etc. Firebrand have also appeared on national TV.


Firebrand can be contacted via the agency or directly. For details see the contacts page



The Band

Miranda Sykes has been playing the double bass since the age of nine. Classically trained, she also played bass guitar in rock and country outfits until, at the age of twenty, her roots in folk music lured her back to tour Europe and America with folk-rock band Pressgang.
She has built up a solo repertoire of refreshingly unusual songs from her native Lincolnshire as well as other traditional and modern material. She performs solo at folk clubs and festivals across the country accompanying herself on double bass.
Miranda is increasingly in demand both as a double bass player and singer and joined Keith Angel and Roger Wilson in The Bill Jones Band last year. She tours regularly with The Robb Johnson Trio, Steáfán Hannigan's Mahogany Gaspipes and The Bill Jones Trio as well as Firebrand.
Miranda is regularly used as a session musician in Steáfán Hannigan's 'Oisin Studios' and also works as a soloist on the Live Music Now! Scheme, taking her music to special schools and day centres all over England.

Peter Miln has played fiddle from an early age. An initial interest in traditional music, inspired by the great Tom Anderson at Stirling summer school, was nurtured by Scots fiddler Bill Eddie every year at Sidmouth Festival. Many years of session playing have increased the scope of his interest and knowledge to include many celtic traditions.
He has played in many outfits including the duo with Dan James which has notched up a tally of well over 1000 gigs. He has played on over 20 albums including several as a session musician.
Peter has managed Firebrand since it started and has co-produced and co-engineered all the Firebrand albums to date.

Dan James developed an interest in traditional music through attending the infamous Swindon folk singers club and the related sessions. Dan played guitar and banjo for many years before taking up the cittern. He is now one of only a handful of professional cittern players in the country.
Dan started numerous bands over the years including folk rock outfit "Reincarnation" whose other members included Pete Miln and the current rhythm section of the Phil beer band - Nick Quarmby and Steve Crickett.
Dan is also a seasoned session musician.

John Harris is a producer as well as a musician and has worked with many well known artists in the studio including June Tabor, Ron Kavana, Phil Beer, Afterhours, Alan Burke and Dezi Donnelly. John took up the harp about 10 years ago; he was already an accomplished guitar and mandolin player.
John toured Europe playing harp and guitar with Alan Burke and fiddler Giles Lewin before joining Firebrand as a full time member a few years ago. Currently he plays a Camac electric harp live with the band but still records and does solo gigs with his acoustic harp.

Imogen O'Rourke took up the flute at the age of nine. Having played in various Cardiff bands, Imogen did a music degree at Dartington College. It was here that she developed an interest in Irish traditional music, by frequenting the local sessions. In 1999 Imogen joined Irish band "The Wingers" who were based in Portugal. Whilst there, she started picking up French, Galician and Portugese tunes from the locals musicians. She joined Firebrand shortly after meeting some of the band at St Chartier festival in France.


Reviews of "Lost Lady Found"

"This is really very good. A young English band, which has recently augmented its line-up adding double bass and flute to the previous instrumentation of fiddle, cittern and harps. Double bass player Miranda Sykes takes the lead vocals on the five songs. There is a fresh bright sound to the playing and the line up of instruments allows for a great deal of interplay and subtlety. At the same time the double bass gives depth and stops it sounding too airy-fairy. The "Oikish Pete" set of tunes is a perfect example of their abilities - strong ensemble work with good fiddle and flute solos also featuring. The one solo instrumental track is "Leaping from the nest", which is a nice harp piece from John Harris.

The songs are from varied sources - mainly traditional except for "Lincolnshire Song", which was written by Miranda's dad about his home county. Miranda handles the vocals well and again her performances are enhanced by the instrumentation and arrangements behind her. A good example is "Moll Malone" where the flute and harp together set the frame for the vocals.

Overall this is an excellent recording and one well worth seeking out. My one concern is that this is the first I have heard of this group although this is their third CD, albeit the first from the new line-up. The group and their management must ensure they reach as many people as possible. It would be a great pity if a recording and a band as good as this did not achieve their full potential."
David Thorpe - Living Tradition Issue 46


"Welsh based Celtic quintet Firebrand deliver their third album in Lost Lady Found. Their sound is based around a mix of flowing instrumental arrangements complimented with suitably atmospheric vocal tracks. Instrumentally the combination of harp, flute, fiddle, cittern and double bass allows for some pleasing moments – sets like Blood Brothers/Absent Fathers and Mad Mothers possess a cunningly effective approach. Firebrand’s mettle is a profound yet pastoral take on a basically Celtic repertoire with an occasional nod towards English folk styles. The closing Lincolnshire Song offers an example of the latter with singer Miranda Sykes’s fluid articulation of her father’s elgaeic lyrics.

John Harris’ electric and acoustic Celtic harp work recalls Wendy Stewart’s clarseach work with Ceolbeg and comparison with this Scottish band is not entirely outlandish as both outfits delve into a similar musical bag. While the flute and fiddle work of Imogen O’ Rourke and Peter Miln are headfirst in the race aurally, Daniel James’s cittern and Miranda Sykes’ double bass add a lighter more subtle overall effect than many Celtic outfits. The early Altan vibe of the extrovert Oikish Pete Set, all guns blazing, and The Gold Ring where command of varying tempo and mood excel, display Firebrand’s collective musical savvy. Lost lady Found balances subtlety and excitement in a thoroughly pleasing package - highly recommended."
John O'Regan - fRoots Issue 226

"Firebrand have defied their name to produce a subtly crafted CD which is packed with spirited sets and honest songs. Each listen reveals further evidence of their strong musicianship and love of the tradition"
Living Tradition

FIREBRAND now sport a regular three-piece line-up. The trio excel on their latest album, 'Kyng Horn', exuding a classy confidence and displaying an attractive melodic sensibility. Characterised by some great arrangements, their tune sets - in the Breton, Scots and Irish areas plus some self-penned compositions - announce an act about to come into its own (most notable, perhaps, in the fiddle and cittern interchanges).

The harp of John Harris (who also contributes mandolin and guitar) adds a melodic delicacy and, sometimes, ethereal (though never 'New Agey) quality. Top marks, too, for a superior outing of trad numbers 'A Kiss In The Morning Early' and 'Carnlough Bay' - both approached with style and a willingness to push things further. Fellow Firebrand founder members Pete Miln (fiddle, mandolin and vocals) and Daniel James (cittern, guitar and vocals) also demonstrate an accomplished and developing maturity on 'Kyng Horn'. It's an album that manages to assert Firebrand's growing authority while also serving as a calling card for the trio, who look set to create a bit of a stir on the folk and Celtic music circuit.
Rock ‘n’ Reel

Firebrand is a trio of multi-instrumentalists now working out of Gloucester (U.K.). On this their first release, they offer seven songs and six sets of tunes from England, Scotland, Ireland and Brittany. Their prime instruments are fiddle, guitar, citterns, harps and mandolin. There is some traditional material, like "A Kiss in the Morning Early" and "Carnlough Bay", and some original material (including the impressive opener,"Ballad of Robert and Mary" and a fine set of original tunes, the "Kyng Horn Set"). There are a couple of elements that raise this release above the standard for the average Celtic-trad trio. One strong point is their judicious use of the harp on a number of tracks, which extends their sound considerably. They can go from a quiet fiddle/harp treatment of "Mary ,Young and Fair" to a rousing version of "Courtin' in the Kitchen". This is an intriguing release from a trio showing a lot of potential.
Dirty Linen - U.S.A

"This is one of those albums you know from the first few bars that it's good. Beautifully modulated voice control and delicately crafted musicianship commands the listener's full attention. The orchestration is carefully balanced with all those superbly played instruments talking to each other with full musical rapport. The whole feel of the album is very traditional with all the benefits of modern production and a little bit of swing and syncopated rhythm here and there, and on occasion a slight hint of jazz, never betraying the basic ethos of the whole. All of firebrand's arrangements are sound and innovative, bringing traditional poems such as "Rockley Firs" to life and putting a hearty sparkle into songs such as "Courtin' in the Kitchen". Interspersed with the songs are several instrumental sets which are an absolute joy and just have to be listened to!"
Traditional Music Maker

So far as I am aware, Firebrand are a new band comprising a trio of instrumentalists, Peter Miln on fiddle and mandolin, Daniel James on cittern and guitar, with John Harris on harps, mandolin and guitar. They all share the vocal duties. First impressions place them on a similar shelf to the late, lamented Afterhours, so imagine my surprise when I noticed the name of Alan Burke (ex-Afterhours) crop up in the list of credits playing Bodhran. Their overall sound is very reminiscent of the original Afterhours line-up which was far and away my favourite. So from the word go, Firebrand are onto a winner in my book, mixing strong songs and tunes to good effect with neat arrangements and strong melodies. For me, however, they leave the best ‘til last, a thumping joyous Female Highwayman, with its fiery electric guitars and vocals reminding me of Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson, that brings the album to a rollocking conclusion. Great!

Folk on Tap