The Hoosiers

The Hoosiers arrive in Oxford on 6 October 2026 at O2 Academy Oxford, led by the duo Irwin Sparkes and Alan Sharland. Named after a stop in Indianapolis that gave them their name, the band emerged in the mid-2000s with nervy, melodic and slightly offbeat pop rock, sitting between indie pop, piano rock and straightforward choruses. The Trick to Life in 2007 laid the groundwork, followed by The Illusion of Safety (reissued as Bumpy Ride), then a more independent trajectory with The News from Nowhere and The Secret Service.

Now primarily a duo on record and on stage, The Hoosiers continue to deliver catchy tracks crafted around bouncy guitars, bright keyboards and tight, driving rhythms. Their album Confidence, released in 2023, introduces a more synth-driven touch without losing their sense of melody. In concert, the band moves between the early songs that established them and more recent material, for a compact, effective set in which songwriting remains central. Oxford will see a well-honed lineup, committed to songs that get straight to the point, without unnecessary detours.