Sounds Like family values By Amanda Keenan An upbeat Partridge Family for the
90's the Marsh clan are proof that the family that plays together stays together.
The Mash Family, a multi-talented seven piece band, is a rarity in the music industry.
Warwick Marsh, is the frontman for the crowd-pleasing band, who have been playing
together for five years.
Comprising his wife Alison and their children Nathaniel, 14, Jonathon, 13, Levi,
11, Israel, 8, and Melodies, 3, the band is a products of Warwick's love for music
- and his family.
It sprang from his keenness for the five children to learn music, something of
which he was deprived as a child.
"My dad was a violinist in an orchestra and he always told me he would teach me
to play music, but never got around to it," he said. "So I learned it myself and
then made sure I got the boys to learn music so if they wanted to use it, they
could."
And use it they do.
The Marsh Family have recently released their debut CD - Straight From The Heart
- and have just returned from a successful stint at the Tamworth Festival where
they injected variety into a predominantly country line-up.
Warwick said the advantage of having a family band was the chance to play music
with his children, giving them invaluable experience. The Marsh Family have toured
Australia, performing in remote Aboriginal communities and even in jails.
Warwick recalls a Christmas-time jail performance that brought one tough prisoner
to the verge of tears.
"He told me we had brought the real meaning of Christmas to him - I was really
touched."
"The prisoners love to see children because they represent everything they haven't
got"
Warwick describes their music as rock'n'roll with reggae, gospel and blues influences.
Each family member makes their own contribution to the Marsh sound, which is becoming
more widely know thanks to radio airplay. Warwick plays guitar, writes and sings
and also acts a producer. Alison plays keyboard and the start musician of the
family, Nathaniel, plays drums.
Bass guitar player Jonathon has been playing for over four yeas as has saxophonist
Levi. Israel has been learning guitar and wants to join the band full-time - at
the moment he is the band's roadie. Melodie, the baby, plays plastic guitar and
has already started singing.
