When four friends with wildly different journeys – from the West End stage to Nashville song circles — decided to take a leap together, they became First Time Flyers: a harmony-driven, heart-led UK country band who are fast becoming one of the genre’s most exciting new names.
Poppy Fardell, Jake Morrell, Vicki Manser and Tim Prottey-Jones each landed in this band with a different set of baggage. Breakups, burnouts, breakthroughs. Stage lights, solo records, and still each a burning dream to make something bigger. Together, they found a home in each other’s stories and stitched them into songs – and in the process, created something spectacular.
They debuted in 2023, performed for the first time at Country 2 Country Festival (C2C) to glowing reviews. It marked the start of a whirlwind year that saw them sell out their first UK headline tour, perform at major festivals, and even open for Bruce Springsteen and The Chicks at BST Hyde Park. Their four-part harmonies, honest songwriting and infectious on and off stage chemistry makes them impossible to ignore.
Unusually made up of four lead singers and multi-instrumentalists, they are as capable behind the scenes as on stage – writing, producing, designing and releasing all their own music. Their sound is rooted in country but pulls in pop, rock, and singer-songwriter sensibilities. Think the honesty of Kacey Musgraves, the vocal blend of Little Big Town, and the emotional reach of Lady A – but with a distinctly British edge.
Their debut album, Bound To Break’, came out on September 12, 2025, and is already being called a defining moment in UK country. The title refers to the idea that sometimes we have to break – break up, break down, break rules – in order to break through. It’s a raw and resonant look at the defining moments in our lives: the jumps we take, the ones we don’t, the ones we miss and the courage it takes to start all over again.
The band have had 3 singles make the Radio 2 Playlist and have played C2C in London twice [2023 / 2025]