Your new favourite old band, The Hoosiers – who comprise original members, vocalist Irwin Sparkes and drummer Alan Sharland - release their first new single for eight years on 25th April 2023. Entitled Hello Sunshine, the track - a Sparks/Panic At The Disco-type affair about fighting to see the positive, and avoid being dragged down by a loved one's darker tendencies - boasts more chord changes than the current Top Ten put together, and is the perfect re-introduction to the Hoosiers’ ‘70s pop-rock sound.
Hello Sunshine has been lifted from the Hoosiers fantastic new album, Confidence, due for release on September 15th this year. As wonky as Weezer, as poignant as Pulp, Confidence has been produced by Sam Miller, who mixed the first album, and was recorded at Angelic Recording Studios. The album boasts future singles like Snowflake - about how a being of true love, who seeks only to love, could expect to be received in the UK in our present times, the Metronomy/Daft Punk-tinged Making A Monster, and the effortlessly-fabulous murder (non) ballad, Idaho.
Back in October, 2007, The Hoosiers’ debut album, The Trick To Life, was an instant success, shooting to No.1 in the UK charts, and spawning four singles, including Top 5 hits, Worried About Ray, and Goodbye Mr A. Since those heady days, the band has met mixed fortunes – the band were NME Worst Band Award winners in 2008, although the magazine declined the band’s offer to get up on stage to accept the award - a fact the Hoosiers are keen to confront head on. “Given the ups and downs of 15 years in ‘showbiz’”, says singer Irwin Sparkes, “the choice to actively fight to find the positive, to believe the storm clouds will pass, is intrinsic to us as people and as a band. A survival instinct honed by countless failures and the act of dragging yourself back up after each one.” Enter Confidence, a sonic shot of optimism, effervescence and joie de vivre, and an album so hook-laden, you’ll think you’ve had it knocking around your house for years.
The Hoosiers will be supporting the release of Confidence with several appearances at UK festivals over the summer, before embarking on a full UK tour in September and October this year. Tickets for the tour go on sale April 28th, although Koko tickets are available now below.
