The Family Tree is a 12-piece band led by vocalist and pianist Anders "Hofstone" von Hofsten and rapper Patrik "Mac One" Larsson, and known in Sweden as one of the strongest soul bands of all time. releasing pure power and an infectious streak. The music is a tasty cocktail of funk, soul, hip hop, jazz and acid jazz.

      Founded in Malmö in 1994, the band was the continuation of a solo project that Patrik was starting called "Mac and the Guttersnipes". Hailing from the hit hiphop trio Treble 'N Bass ("My Sweet Señorita", "Jam Jam Jam"), he wanted to start a new, more live act influenced by bands such as The Roots and Brand New Heavies . At that time Anders was studying music at Fridhems Folkhögskola in Svalöv and had already established himself as one of the most interesting singers on the local soul scene, leading the touring funk band "Dr Fonkenstein".

      After working with Anders on the Treble 'N Bass single "Rain & Sunshine (Olah Olah Hey)", Patrik asks him to join. Anders  accepts and brings his favorite musicians: soul brother Jonas von Hofsten on drums, groovster guitarist Jens Mattsson on guitar and funk genius Thobias Gabrielson on bass.

      The solo project had turned into a band - actually a small family - and soon the name was changed to this: The Family Tree .

      The first recordings were made by Johan Bejerholm, Patrik's longtime partner, in his World Studios. Live, the branches of the tree grew even more, with Johan Holmström on keyboards, Erik Wierup on percussion, Johanna Wierup and Ingela Olson on backing vocals, and of course "The Hunky Horns": Viktor Sand on saxophone, Patrick Björsjö on trombone and Niclas Arn on trumpet.

      By 1995 the band, established themselves as a big name live act, playing in southern Sweden and Denmark in ever larger venues, building up a strong following. The rooms where they occur are  : KB in Malmö, Mejeriet in Lund, Nefertiti in Gothenburg, Fasching in Stockholm and Jazz House and Park Café in Copenhagen. Festivals: Malmöfestivalen and Folkfesten in Malmö - headlining after The Cardigans ...

      The songwriting (still by Anders and Patrik) developed and soon the band found themselves with a recording contract at Lemon/Carlton Records. Therefore, in the autumn of the same year, the recording of their first album - produced by Anders - begins at Berno Studio, Malmö. The first single "Make Way for the Family", released in December 1995, became a great anthem for the band, with its danceable groove and energizing lyrics. The second single "Together" followed in February 1996: a p-funkish pop pearl with a moog bass, which was a hit on the dance floor and also gained a lot of airplay, as well as video exposure on Z- TV and other TV channels.

     Finally, on March 8, 1996, the album "Rouse!" released to great reviews and put The Family Tree in the Swedish soul game once and for all, alongside bands like Blacknuss, Stonefunkers and Newtone. The group performs in major shows on Swedish television and has a lot of press and radio. The tour that follows in the spring is sold out at major clubs and during the summer they continue to fire up festivals in Sweden and Scandinavia visiting Malmöfestivalen, Storsjöyran and Vattenfestivalen to name but a few. The tour continued until the winter of 1996/1997 - among other things, they held their own Soul monthly at legendary jazz club Fredmans in Malmö - culminating in a sold-out New Year funk celebration at Kulturbolaget.

     In 1997, The Family Tree supposedly recorded and released their second album, but things happened differently, as often happens in life. No hard feelings, not even a real breakup, but the band dissolves into separate funk atoms.

     Anders "Hofstone" von Hofsten moves to Stockholm to pursue a successful career as a solo artist, vocalist and keyboardist, recording in the boy band bubble of the legendary Cherion Studio and surrounding himself with artists like Robyn, Jennifer Brown, Amanda Jenssen and Simone Moreno. He released two solo albums: "Bottom of a Heart" (2005) under the pseudonym Hofstone, and "Cosmic Lullabies" (2016).

     Patrik "Mac One" Larsson crossed the line and joined the other side of the music industry, working as a music director, A&R and label manager at Playground Music and his own company. He is a sought-after speaker and expert at music industry panels and conferences around the world.

     Thobias Gabrielson has long been one of Sweden's most sought after bass players, having played with Kaah, Nils Landgren, Magnus Öström, DAMN! to name a few, and he also has his own career as an artist, with the album "Growth" (2011) as a fine example.

      Ingela Olson, Johan Holmström, Niclas Arn and Viktor Sand are also performing musicians and songwriters. The rest of the band members continued to play and rock, but only slightly out of the public spotlight.

And now ? Die-hard fans were right to hold out hope. Make way for the family! By massive demand, "Rouse!" is re-released digitally in Fall 2019, for the very first time. And in January 2020, The Family Tree reunites and performs two exclusive concerts. Who knows what happens next?