
“We came back to it for a very simple reason: we started enjoying writing songs again.” Sam Swallow’s description of how The Hoosiers re-formed, and in doing so reconnected with what had made them start a band in the first place, is matter-of-fact, but the expression on the keyboardist’s face as he says this is passionate. Sitting beside him and nodding in agreement, Irwin Sparkes, Martin Skarendahl and Alan Sharland convey a similar sense of having emerged, blinking, into the light, having endured some pretty dark times. The 12 tracks that make up The Hoosiers’ comeback album, The News From Nowhere, offer further evidence of renewal: produced by the band, and recorded in the East London warehouse where Martin has amassed a collection of vintage recording equipment and instruments, The News From Nowhere is an astonishing return to form. “Doing it on our own terms,” says Irwin, “and actually having a proper say in it, felt wonderful. We have nothing to lose, but a lot to prove.” “It’s the first time we’ve worked without a producer,” adds Sam, “and that has it pluses and its minuses. We ended up asking someone to come in and help with the last stages, just to have an objective pair of ears and get a different opinion on one or two things we couldn’t resolve.” Such as? All four Hoosiers exchange glances. “We’re a democracy,” says Irwin, “and that can have its drawbacks.” “Especially when there are four of you,” ventures Al, “because that two-against-two thing can occur.” Sam: “But then Irwin instituted the sitting-on-the-fence idea, too, which complicated things even further.” “And I’m really good at it now,” laughs Irwin. “I can lie down on the fence.”
As the above exchange demonstrates, The Hoosiers are in a good place right now, and no wonder, so vibrant and brimming with ideas does The News From Nowhere sound. Engaging directly with fans via Facebook in a continual dialogue has enriched and revitalised them, they say, not to mention vindicated their decision to self-release the album, and miss out the middlemen. Yet there were times, as each member of the band will readily admit, where things were altogether less open and easy. The multi-platinum success of their 2007 debut album, The Trick to Life, and singles such as ‘Worried About Ray’ and ‘Goodbye Mr. A’, raised huge expectations for its follow-up, not least at The Hoosiers’ record label. The prophetically titled The Illusion of Safety was, all four agree, a troubled project from the start. “I look back now and think that we were in this very specific and very narrow place,” says Martin, “as a band on a major label. Music ends up different in that world; artists are swept along by its rules and standards. When we were making The Illusion of Safety, this producer went, ‘This is how the bass drum should sound, because that’s what Lady Gaga does, and Lady Gaga is all over radio right now’. So it isn’t surprising that a lot of music ends up being affected by that environment, by that way of thinking. It should have been just about what the four of us were doing, but it wasn’t. And that was the biggest difference on the new album.” “It’s in the language, though,” argues Irwin. “The word ‘hit’ is substituted for ‘good’. There’s an art to writing under those conditions, but it wasn’t one that worked for us. It exacts a toll on too many writers. You give up too much if you do that.”
The image of the band that was being pushed at this time didn’t help, either. “In my head,” recalls Al, “all I wanted us to be was original and to do something that meant swimming against the tide. And people then took that to the shiniest nth degree, and it became almost comical.” “The problem is,” Irwin reflects, “that you can get saddled with various perceptions very quickly. People start saying, ‘Is this just novelty?’ We were so preoccupied by the sound, by the songs, that the aesthetic side of it sort of crept on us. But there was a sort of indiegeddon at the time, photos with bands stood in doorways wearing shades, lots of muted colours, and I guess we went the other way. But we had a lot of fun doing it, and really made each other laugh. And let’s not forget, for one of our videos we got to pretend to fly, on wires, with Superman’s stunt double.”
Such a negative experience of the creative process – the odd laugh aside – would have done for many bands, and there was indeed a period where The Hoosiers went their separate ways. “I remember getting to this point,” says Al, “where I said, ‘I need some space from this’. I think we all knew it. We needed to forget about it for a while.” “And it lasted for about a year,” says Sam, “and then we got together again and everyone went, ‘I’ve got some tunes, how about you?’” Even then, says Irwin, it would be another year before they hunkered down to record. “But I look back on that now and think it was a good thing, because what we had then wasn’t remotely on a par with what we have now – though it’s been a really tough process. I’d love to be able to say, ‘Yeah, it’s just been four people in a room, falling in love again. But, you know,” he says with a chuckle, “at least the tension this time around has all been just within the band.”
Tension, creativity, democracy, arguments, time apart, coming back together, sitting on the fence (in Irwin’s case). And songs. Lots of them. The product of years of pent-up emotion and a longing to make music together again. From the opening bars of ‘Somewhere in the Distance’ to the closing notes of ‘Nathan’s Loft’, The News From Nowhere is the sound of a band who have rediscovered what they love about music, and why they need to make it together. Gone is the self-consciousness of the dog days around their second album; gone, too, the self-doubt. In their place is a deeply rooted – and hard-won – confidence, and a determination to lock back in to the freedom and joy of the early days. The cowbell that propels ‘Make or Break (You Gotta Know)’; the baroque-pop of ‘Fidget Brain’; the combination of forlorn vocal and descending chords on ‘My Last Fight’; the brass flecks and squelches beneath the propulsive piano on ‘Weirdo’; the self-knowing and impassioned lyrics, and Beach Boys-go-barbershop harmonies, on the title track: all these moments are evidence of a band who have travelled a long and occasionally difficult path, and emerged on the sunlit uplands, older, wiser – and sounding better than ever. So we can’t be blamed for concluding that the lyrics to the first verse of ‘Somewhere in the Distance’ contain more than a hint of what the band have been through, and where they are now. “We’ve got a lot to lose – the stakes are staggering,” Irwin sings, “but we don’t choose the use the brakes that only ground us down. No, when the times are tough, we’ll turn them round.” And then the killer lines: “So make hay while the sun shines on your face, ’cos you’re young but only once / It’s ok, life won’t stop if you make mistakes. Cling on to that sweet, sweet hope, somewhere in the distance.” Amen to that.
The News From Nowhere is available now in multiple formats from www.thehoosiers.com/shop
As the above exchange demonstrates, The Hoosiers are in a good place right now, and no wonder, so vibrant and brimming with ideas does The News From Nowhere sound. Engaging directly with fans via Facebook in a continual dialogue has enriched and revitalised them, they say, not to mention vindicated their decision to self-release the album, and miss out the middlemen. Yet there were times, as each member of the band will readily admit, where things were altogether less open and easy. The multi-platinum success of their 2007 debut album, The Trick to Life, and singles such as ‘Worried About Ray’ and ‘Goodbye Mr. A’, raised huge expectations for its follow-up, not least at The Hoosiers’ record label. The prophetically titled The Illusion of Safety was, all four agree, a troubled project from the start. “I look back now and think that we were in this very specific and very narrow place,” says Martin, “as a band on a major label. Music ends up different in that world; artists are swept along by its rules and standards. When we were making The Illusion of Safety, this producer went, ‘This is how the bass drum should sound, because that’s what Lady Gaga does, and Lady Gaga is all over radio right now’. So it isn’t surprising that a lot of music ends up being affected by that environment, by that way of thinking. It should have been just about what the four of us were doing, but it wasn’t. And that was the biggest difference on the new album.” “It’s in the language, though,” argues Irwin. “The word ‘hit’ is substituted for ‘good’. There’s an art to writing under those conditions, but it wasn’t one that worked for us. It exacts a toll on too many writers. You give up too much if you do that.”
The image of the band that was being pushed at this time didn’t help, either. “In my head,” recalls Al, “all I wanted us to be was original and to do something that meant swimming against the tide. And people then took that to the shiniest nth degree, and it became almost comical.” “The problem is,” Irwin reflects, “that you can get saddled with various perceptions very quickly. People start saying, ‘Is this just novelty?’ We were so preoccupied by the sound, by the songs, that the aesthetic side of it sort of crept on us. But there was a sort of indiegeddon at the time, photos with bands stood in doorways wearing shades, lots of muted colours, and I guess we went the other way. But we had a lot of fun doing it, and really made each other laugh. And let’s not forget, for one of our videos we got to pretend to fly, on wires, with Superman’s stunt double.”
Such a negative experience of the creative process – the odd laugh aside – would have done for many bands, and there was indeed a period where The Hoosiers went their separate ways. “I remember getting to this point,” says Al, “where I said, ‘I need some space from this’. I think we all knew it. We needed to forget about it for a while.” “And it lasted for about a year,” says Sam, “and then we got together again and everyone went, ‘I’ve got some tunes, how about you?’” Even then, says Irwin, it would be another year before they hunkered down to record. “But I look back on that now and think it was a good thing, because what we had then wasn’t remotely on a par with what we have now – though it’s been a really tough process. I’d love to be able to say, ‘Yeah, it’s just been four people in a room, falling in love again. But, you know,” he says with a chuckle, “at least the tension this time around has all been just within the band.”
Tension, creativity, democracy, arguments, time apart, coming back together, sitting on the fence (in Irwin’s case). And songs. Lots of them. The product of years of pent-up emotion and a longing to make music together again. From the opening bars of ‘Somewhere in the Distance’ to the closing notes of ‘Nathan’s Loft’, The News From Nowhere is the sound of a band who have rediscovered what they love about music, and why they need to make it together. Gone is the self-consciousness of the dog days around their second album; gone, too, the self-doubt. In their place is a deeply rooted – and hard-won – confidence, and a determination to lock back in to the freedom and joy of the early days. The cowbell that propels ‘Make or Break (You Gotta Know)’; the baroque-pop of ‘Fidget Brain’; the combination of forlorn vocal and descending chords on ‘My Last Fight’; the brass flecks and squelches beneath the propulsive piano on ‘Weirdo’; the self-knowing and impassioned lyrics, and Beach Boys-go-barbershop harmonies, on the title track: all these moments are evidence of a band who have travelled a long and occasionally difficult path, and emerged on the sunlit uplands, older, wiser – and sounding better than ever. So we can’t be blamed for concluding that the lyrics to the first verse of ‘Somewhere in the Distance’ contain more than a hint of what the band have been through, and where they are now. “We’ve got a lot to lose – the stakes are staggering,” Irwin sings, “but we don’t choose the use the brakes that only ground us down. No, when the times are tough, we’ll turn them round.” And then the killer lines: “So make hay while the sun shines on your face, ’cos you’re young but only once / It’s ok, life won’t stop if you make mistakes. Cling on to that sweet, sweet hope, somewhere in the distance.” Amen to that.
The News From Nowhere is available now in multiple formats from www.thehoosiers.com/shop
Rock Indie Rock Alternative Indie British
All tickets
- Penn Festival 2022 Adult Weekend No Camping - Tier 1 £76.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Child (3-12yrs) Weekend No Camping - Must be presented alongside an adult ticket on entry (can be booked separately). Max. 2 per adult (18+). Not valid for VIP area. £20.00
- Penn Festival 2022 VIP Weekend No Camping - Tier 1 £200.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Posh Loo - Weekend - Tier 1 - Per person, does not include entry £35.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Adult (13+) Friday - Tier 1 £42.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Child (3.12yrs) Friday - Must be presented alongside an adult ticket on entry (can be booked separately). Max. 2 per adult (18+). Not valid for VIP area. £10.00
- Penn Festival 2022 VIP Friday - Tier 1 £105.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Posh Loo - Friday - Tier 1 - Per person, does not include entry £20.00
- Penn Festival 2022 VIP Saturday - Tier 1 £105.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Adult (13+) Saturday - Tier 1 £42.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Child (3-12yrs) Saturday - Must be presented alongside an adult ticket on entry (can be booked separately). Max. 2 per adult (18+). Not valid for VIP area. £10.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Posh Loo - Saturday - Tier 1 - Per person, does not include entry £20.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Standard Campervan Pass (Less than 6m) - Total pitch area (incl. awning) 9m x 6m. No tents allowed in campervan area. Everyone in the campervan must have a camping ticket. £50.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Large Campervan Pass (Over 6m) - Total pitch area (incl. awning) 9m x 12m. No tents allowed in campervan area. Everyone in the campervan must have a camping ticket. £60.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Camping (MUST be presented alongside Weekend Ticket) - Tier 1 - Per person, does not include entry £25.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Camping (MUST be presented alongside Weekend Ticket) - Tier 2 - Tier 2 - Per person does not include entry £30.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Adult Weekend No Camping - Tier 1 £81.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Child (3-12yrs) Weekend No Camping - Tier 2 - Must be presented alongside an adult ticket on entry (can be booked separately). Max. 2 per adult (18+). Not valid for VIP area. £30.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Posh Loo - Weekend - Tier 2 - Per person, does not include entry £40.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Camping (MUST be presented alongside Weekend Ticket) - Tier 1 - Per person, does not include entry £30.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Standard Campervan Pass (Less than 6m) - Total pitch area (incl. awning) 9m x 6m. No tents allowed in campervan area. Everyone in the campervan must have a camping ticket. £95.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Large Campervan Pass (Over 6m) - Total pitch area (incl. awning) 9m x 12m. No tents allowed in campervan area. Everyone in the campervan must have a camping ticket. £125.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Adult (13+) Friday - Tier 1 £48.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Child (3 - 12yrs) Friday - Tier 2 - Must be presented alongside an adult ticket on entry (can be booked separately). Max. 2 per adult (18+). Not valid for VIP area. £15.00
- Penn Festival 2022 VIP Friday - Tier 1 £110.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Posh Loo - Friday - Tier 2 - Per person, does not include entry £25.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Bus Service - Friday Return Ticket (per day). - High Wycombe Bus Station bay 17 > High Wycombe Rail Station stop X1 > Hazlemere Crossroads > PennFest - See info for times £7.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Bus Service - Friday Return Ticket (per day). - Child 12yrs & Under £5.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Adult (13+) Saturday - Tier 1 £48.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Child (3-12yrs) Saturday - Tier 2 - Must be presented alongside an adult ticket on entry (can be booked separately). Max. 2 per adult (18+). Not valid for VIP area. £15.00
- Penn Festival 2022 VIP Saturday - Tier 2 £120.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Posh Loo - Saturday - Tier 2 - Per person, does not include entry £25.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Bus Service - Saturday Return Ticket (per day) - High Wycombe Bus Station bay 17 > High Wycombe Rail Station stop X1 > Hazlemere Crossroads > PennFest - See info for times £7.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Bus Service - Saturday Return Ticket (per day) - Child 12yrs & Under £5.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Friday VIP Table Reservation - Max 10 per table - Prepaid Bar tab of £500.00 will reserve your table all day with waitress service and itemised bar bill. (Prepaid bar spend is non refundable if not fully spent) Suitable for 6+ guests. Customers must have already purchased VIP tickets for all £500.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Saturday VIP Table Reservation - Max 10 per table - Prepaid Bar tab of £500.00 will reserve your table all day with waitress service and itemised bar bill. (Prepaid bar spend is non refundable if not fully spent) Suitable for 6+ guests. Customers must have already purchased VIP tickets for all £500.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Adult (13+) Saturday - Tier 2 £54.00
- Penn Festival 2022 VIP Friday - Tier 2 £120.00
- Penn Festival 2022 VIP Saturday - Tier 3 £130.00
- Penn Festival 2022 VIP Weekend No Camping - Tier 2 £220.00
- Penn Festival 2022 Adult Weekend No Camping - Tier 2 £93.00
- Madness General Admission £45.00
- Madness General Admission Child - 3-12 years £15.00
- Madness General Admission Child - Under 3 years
- In It Together Fourth Release - 3 Day Camping Adult £119.00
- In It Together Fourth Release - 3 Day Non-Camping Adult £99.00
- In It Together Adult 3 Day Camping - 4 Month Payment Plan Deposit £29.00
- In It Together Adult 3 Day Non-Camping - 4 Month Payment Plan Deposit £29.00
- In It Together 3 Day Camping + Miami Club VIP (18+) Deposit Deposit £59.00
- In It Together Family Camping (2 Adults x 2 Children) - 4 Month Payment Plan Deposit £59.00
- In It Together Fourth Release - Family Ticket (2 Adults x 2 Children) £259.00
- In It Together Bring The Grandparents For Free
- In It Together Fourth Release - (1 Adult x 1 Child) £129.00
- In It Together Fourth Release VIP - 3 Day Camping Adult + Miami Club VIP (18+) £189.00
- In It Together Fourth Release VIP - 3 Day Non Camping + Miami Club VIP (18+) £169.00
- In It Together Water & Loo Package (1 Adult) £30.00
- In It Together Eco Friendly Campsite (1 Adult) £30.00
- In It Together Commemorative First Generation T-Shirt £20.00
- In It Together Commemorative First Generation Hoody £30.00
- In It Together Official Festival Lanyard incl Set Times £10.00
- In It Together Parking - Weekend Camping (1 Car Pass) £20.00
- In It Together Motorhome, Caravan and Campervan Pitch (with Power) £99.00
- In It Together Weekend VIP Upgrade - Club Miami (18+) £75.00
- In It Together Early Access & Exclusive Campers Party (18+) £30.00
- In It Together Early Access & Exclusive Campers Party (16-17) £15.00
- In It Together Early Access & Exclusive Campers Party (5-15) £10.00
- In It Together Early Access & Exclusive Campers Party (0-5)
- In It Together Carer - 3 Day Camping Adult
- In It Together Early Access & Exclusive Campers Party (Family) £70.00
- In It Together Water & Loo Package (1 Child) £10.00
- In It Together Parking - Day (1 Car Pass) £15.00
- In It Together First Release - Friday £59.00
- In It Together First Release - Saturday £59.00
- In It Together First Release - Sunday £59.00
- In It Together Child 3 Day Family Camping (5-15) £29.00
- In It Together Child 3 Day Family Camping (0-4)
- In It Together Child 3 Day Non Camping (0-4)
- In It Together Child 3 Day Non Camping (5-15) £25.00
- In It Together Fourth Release - Teen (16-17) 3 Day Camping £99.00
- In It Together Your Very Own Portaloo (Campsite) £99.00
- In It Together Your Very Own Portaloo (Event Site) £99.00
- In It Together Family Camping (2 Adults x 2 Children) - 3 Month Payment Plan Deposit £59.00
- In It Together Adult 3 Day Camping + Festival Entry - 3 Month Payment Plan Deposit £29.00
- In It Together Adult 3 Day Non Camping - 3 Month Payment Plan Deposit £29.00
- In It Together Adult 3 Day Camping + Miami Club VIP - 3 Month Payment Plan Deposit £59.00
- In It Together January Special - 4 Day Camping + Festival Entry + Campers Party £119.00
- In It Together January Special - 4 Day Family Camping (2 Adults x 2 Children) £259.00
- In It Together Fifth Release (18+) - 3 Day Camping + Festival Entry £129.00
- In It Together Fifth Release (18+) - 3 Day Festival Entry (Non Camping) £109.00
- In It Together Fifth Release - Family Camping Ticket (2 Adults x 2 Children) £269.00
- In It Together Fifth Release - (1 Adult x 1 Child) Camping + Festival Entry £139.00
- In It Together Fifth Release VIP - 3 Day Camping Adult + Miami Club VIP (18+) £199.00
- In It Together Fifth Release VIP - 3 Day Non Camping + Miami Club VIP (18+) £179.00
- In It Together Second Release - Friday (Adult Day Ticket) £59.00
- In It Together Second Release - Saturday (Adult Day Ticket) £59.00
- In It Together Second Release - Sunday (Adult Day Ticket) £59.00
- In It Together Second Release - Friday (Child Day Ticket 5-15) £25.00
- In It Together Second Release - Saturday (Child Day Ticket 5-15) £25.00
- In It Together Second Release - Sunday (Child Day Ticket 5-15) £25.00
- In It Together Friday - 1 Day Festival Entry + Miami Club VIP (18+) £89.00
- In It Together Saturday - 1 Day Festival Entry + Miami Club VIP (18+) £89.00
- In It Together Sunday - 1 Day Festival Entry + Miami Club VIP (18+) £89.00
- In It Together Second Release - Friday (Child Day Ticket 0-4)
- In It Together Second Release - Saturday (Child Day Ticket 0-4)
- In It Together Second Release - Sunday (Child Day Ticket 0-4)
- In It Together Fifth Release - 3 Day Family Campsite + Festival Entry (16-17) £109.00
- In It Together Fifth Release - 3 Day Teen Campsite + Festival Entry (16-17) £109.00
- In It Together 3 Day Weekend Camping 3 Month Payment Plan Deposit £29.00
- In It Together 3 Day Weekend Non-Camping Adult - 3 Month Payment Plan Deposit Deposit £29.00
- In It Together 3 Day Weekend Family Camping - 3 Month Payment Plan Deposit £59.00
- In It Together 3 Day Miami Club VIP & Weekend Camping - 3 Month Payment Plan Deposit £59.00
- In It Together Parking - Weekend Non Camping (1 Car Pass) £20.00
- In It Together Big Green Coach - Weekend Return Services - Bath £35.00
- In It Together Big Green Coach - Weekend Return Services - Birmingham £44.00
- In It Together Big Green Coach - Weekend Return Services - Bridgend £26.00
- In It Together Big Green Coach - Weekend Return Services - Bristol £32.00
- In It Together Big Green Coach - Weekend Return Services - Cardiff £29.00
- In It Together Big Green Coach - Weekend Return Services - Cheltenham £35.00
- In It Together Big Green Coach - Weekend Return Services - Gloucester £35.00
- In It Together Big Green Coach - Weekend Return Services - London £45.00
- In It Together Big Green Coach - Weekend Return Services - Newport £30.00
- In It Together Big Green Coach - Weekend Return Services - Reading £40.00
- In It Together Big Green Coach - Weekend Return Services - Swansea £24.00
- In It Together Big Green Coach - Weekend Return Services - Swindon £35.00
- The Music Barn Festival Early Bird Discount Ticket - Weekend Ticket £60.00
- The Music Barn Festival Weekend Ticket £70.00
- The Music Barn Festival Group Discount Ticket - OFFER!! £45.00
- The Music Barn Festival Camping/Campervan Pass £20.00
- The Music Barn Festival Early Bird Discount Day Ticket - FRIDAY ONLY £30.00
- The Music Barn Festival Early Bird Discount Day Ticket - SATURDAY ONLY £30.00
- The Music Barn Festival Day Ticket - FRIDAY ONLY £35.00
- The Music Barn Festival Day Ticket - SATURDAY ONLY £35.00
- The Hoosiers General Admission £25.00
News
Past Events
- Rochdale Feel Good Festival 2019
- Tunes on the Sands 2019
- Priory Park Festival 2018
- Eklectica 2018
- Green Meadows Festival 2018
- Butefest 2018
- Tiree Music Festival 2018
- TexFest 2018
- Riverside Rock 2018
- Brightside Weekender 2018
- FestivALL 2017
- The Acoustic Festival of Britain 2017
- Lechlade Festival 2017
- LeeStock 2016
- The Portsmouth Summer Show 2016
- Brownstock Festival 2015
- LodeStar 2014
- Isle of Wight Festival 2014
- Watchet Live 2013
- Weyfest 2012
- The Wickerman Festival 2011