The Hoosiers

The Hoosiers land at O2 Academy Bristol on 7 October 2026. Formed in 2003 around singer-guitarist Irwin Sparkes and drummer Alan Sharland, the London-based band took its name from a stint in Indianapolis where the first songs took shape. Their debut, The Trick to Life (2007), set the tone with a blend of indie pop, piano-led hooks and direct, memorable choruses. The Illusion of Safety followed in 2010, then a reworked edition, Bumpy Ride, in 2011. After parting ways with their major label, they steered a more independent path with The News from Nowhere (2014) and The Secret Service (2015).

Now operating mainly as a duo, The Hoosiers continue to refine a pop-rock DNA that’s melodic and concise, opening space for brighter synth textures on Confidence (2023) without losing their knack for tight songwriting. On stage, they draw from across the catalogue, linking early staples with recent cuts, vocal harmonies with piano lines and guitar riffs. A straightforward, energetic show built on rhythm, melody and that balance between indie sensibility and radio-ready immediacy, in the heart of Bristol at O2 Academy.