Driven Serious, A Different Thread

Driven serious started to be formed in late 2010 when Rob Jones, the singer-songwriter-guitarist gave Tom Gregory-Smith, the violin player a phone call having got his number from an advert on the wall in a music shop.

The influences, styles and musical development of the individual band members are truly eclectic, creating a sound that is lyrically driven, with high energy and soul. It would be easy to pigeon-hole Driven Serious into the Folk-Rock category, but the diversity of the percussion, acoustic and electric guitar, punk feel and poetic and sensitive sentiment of some of the songs always guarantees a journey for the audience. An amazing performance is always certain, due the genuineness, honesty and experience of the musicians.

Although Driven Serious is truly individual, when people have strived to compare, as it is in their nature to do, they have mentioned names such as The Smiths, The Levellers, The Wonderstuff, REM, The Pogues, Damien Rice and Radiohead.

“One road is ending, another road begins, come on let’s do it over again” - A Different Thread

In their newest album, A Different Thread weaves a sonic tapestry of hope. Born from the serendipitous meeting of Alicia Best (US) and Robert Jackson (UK) busking on the cobbled streets of Ireland, their harmonies are at the core of their musical connection. Honed across a dozen countries and almost a decade on the road, the raw honesty of their lived experience (navigating visas, vanlife, and love across oceans) runs deep in their songwriting - they deliver unforgettable live performances that have solidified their reputation as artists on the rise.

Folk Radio UK hailed them as "warm, deep songwriters that have drank from the well of 20th century tradition“ and their unique blend of Americana has landed them support slots with The Milk Carton Kids and Jody Stephens (Big Star).

Over Again their third album (September 2nd) is a roadmap to a brighter future, written during a period of personal transformation, marked by their arrival stateside and a solar eclipse. Recording began in their tiny-home studio in the pines of North Carolina, later refined in Sylvan Esso’s studio Betty’s (The Mountain Goats, Watchhouse), and finished at Alma Vale in the UK (Phantom Limb/Yola, Elles Bailey)