The Haggis Horns

The Haggis Horns

The Haggis Horns are a funk group from Leeds. They perform as an eight-piece live band, combining heavy breakbeat funk, soul, hip-hop and afrobeat with the playing of trained jazz musicians. The group includes Rob Mitchell and Atholl Ransome.

Background and style

The band works in a modern funk and jazz-influenced style, with deep funk and jazz fusion elements. Their sound centres on a horn section and a live performance approach built around rhythm-driven arrangements.

Collaborations and recordings

Members of the group perform and record with a wide range of artists, including The Cinematic Orchestra, Lou Donaldson, Nightmares on Wax, Roots Manuva, Mark Ronson, Stuart Zender, Corinne Bailey Rae, Snowboy, Tim Burgess, Odyssey, Martina Topley-Bird, Lily Allen, Candie Payne and Amy Winehouse. The horn section also appears on Keb Darge presents the New Mastersounds, a deep funk album.

Singles and releases

Their first single, Hot Damn!, features John McCallum and is released on Leeds label First Word Records. It is picked up by Mr Scruff and becomes Fat City Records’ record of the week. Their third single, Got To Lose Your Way, also receives support from Quantic, Giles Peterson and Craig Charles on his Funk and Soul show.