The Hoosiers

The Hoosiers bring their sharp, melodic pop-rock to O2 Institute Birmingham on 15 October 2026. Formed in 2003 by Irwin Sparkes and Alan Sharland after a formative spell in Indianapolis, the band cut their first songs before returning to London and breaking through in the mid-2000s with a nervy, piano-tinged take on indie pop. Their debut, The Trick to Life (2007), set the tone, followed by The Illusion of Safety (2010), later revisited as Bumpy Ride (2011). Leaving the major-label circuit, they carried on independently with The News from Nowhere (2014) and The Secret Service (2015).

Now operating mainly as a duo, Sparkes and Sharland keep the core chemistry intact on stage, backed by a tight live setup. Their 2023 album Confidence nudges their sound toward a sleeker, more synthetic sheen while holding onto the crisp hooks and harmonies that define them. Expect a set that threads early favourites with newer tracks, where bright keys, driving drums and ringing guitars carry choruses built for singing along. A straightforward, high-energy run through a catalogue that’s evolved without losing its punch.