After a long hiatus, The Hoosiers are back – and ahead of their gig in Manchester tomorrow, they’re feeling connected with themselves, the band and the music.
The Hoosiers, formed in 2003 in Indianapolis, USA, have been a continuous force in the pop rock genre, releasing tracks known around the world like “Goodbye Mr A” and “Worried About Ray”. Main members Irwin Sparkes and Alan Sharland and their band have come out with a new album, Confidence, and will be playing in Manchester on 3 October.
Alan told MM about how this is the most cohesive the band has been, where they are all love and understand each other: “I think over the years we go through phases. It is like a long term marriage: you have your ups and downs, you sort of work each other out and get used to each other and then bored of each other.
“You hit a point in your life where you understand each other very well and you know what you want, and if that aligns with each other and the whole band, that’s how the magic happens.”
Making this album – eight years on from their previous one – was different, Alan explained, due to them having complete independence writing it. The feeling while making it was positive.
Due to their hiatus, Alan was unsure that more music would be made: “There were no plans or guarantees that were going to write more, but we were inspired – sometimes you have to wait for that moment for the music to come to you.
“I think it is in itself our most confident album.”
This album, Alan explained, uses “all the things that were successful” in previous albums.
The Hoosiers are currently on tour – something else they do with confidence, as Alan said: “In terms of playing and performing we are super confident now. It is an art you develop.
“We as a band, and the crew who are with us, all get along – it will nice for us to be together on a tour bus and have the freedom to play a new album.”
The Hoosiers have played at Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and BBC Radio’s 1 Big Weekend, but Alan’s most special festival was his first: “The first one ever was Virgin Festival in Chelmsford.
“I remember walking out of the tent an hour before and thinking, ‘Blimey, there’s no one here…’ When we went back on stage the tent was full of 2000 people. We had never played in front of that many people before. That as a moment for me was the most special.”
Alan’s advice for up-and-comers? “Just keep writing and don’t ever stop… that muscle is probably the most important”
The Hoosiers are performing at Gorilla in Manchester on 3 October 2023.
Tickets are available here.
