It’s almost two decades since indie-pop-rock band The Hoosiers made their mark in the UK charts with their breakthrough single ‘Worried About Ray’ and their debut number-one album ‘The Trick to Life’. So, it’s easy to view them as a nostalgia act. But the question beckons: can a band whose biggest hits are nearly 20 years old still feel relevant in 2026?
The job of warming up the crowd on night nine of ten of the Compassion UK Tour fell to Hunny Buzz. The indie-pop band had a slightly heavier sound than that of the headliners, captivating the growing crowd as people filtered in and the venue filled to capacity. They delivered a strong opening set full of energy and charm, with members of the crowd nodding their heads as they prepared for what was to come.
The Hoosiers entered the stage to the crowd chanting “Hoo Hoo Hoo”. They opened their set with ‘Sleeping with the Light On’ and ‘Lonely Together’, two songs from their new album, and immediately proved they were far more than merely a band reliant on nostalgia. The energy in the room was instantly palpable as the venue filled with colour and joy, setting the tone for the evening.
By the third song, ‘Monster’, lead vocalist Irwin Sparkes was already amongst the crowd, mingling with those who had forked out to be there and giving his crew the difficult task of trying to stop those at the front becoming tangled in his microphone wire. Sparkes made his way towards the back of the crowd, with his high-energy aura spreading throughout the venue as fans got up close and personal with the frontman.
‘Worried About Ray’ was the fifth song on the setlist and produced one of the night’s biggest reactions, with devoted fans still knowing every single lyric 19 years on. The band had a very well-balanced setlist, complementing the old songs with the new and even mixing in a few ‘Hoosier-fied’ covers, including ‘Pink Pony Club’ and Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’. This tour was to promote their new album ‘Compassion’, however, I really rate a band who are not afraid to perform their biggest hits and songs that got them to where they are today – and to do so with such joy, charisma and class really cements them as a brilliant live act in my eyes.
The musicianship cannot go unmentioned, as the band showcased their versatility across a plethora of instruments during the set. The cornet was one that really brought the crowd alive, with its honeyed tones; and the vocals were simply superb, shining particularly brightly during the slower numbers of the evening.
But it wasn’t just the music that made the evening memorable. Sparkes’ playful relationship with the crowd continued throughout the set, with the frontman once again finding himself amongst the audience. At one point, he joked: “This is the part where someone normally hands me a beer.” The response was immediate, as someone handed him their beer and the crowd encouraged him to down it. His response? “Piss off, I’m 47.” The room erupted in laughter, perfectly capturing the humour and down-to-earth character that the crowd had become enamoured of.
The encore was made up of four songs: the tour-titled ‘Compassion’, ‘Don’t Hang Your Head’, ‘Worst Case Scenario’ and, finally, the one everyone could not leave without hearing – ‘Goodbye Mr A’. The night had reached its peak. The crowd were united, singing together with arms raised in the air as the stage lit up in full colour. The playfulness of the band’s stage presence, which had carried the evening, was front and centre as the crowd took over the song. The band sounded just as good as they did on the recorded version almost 20 years ago. Sparkes barely needed to sing as the audience belted out every single word.
As the song came to an end, the crowd and band were clearly still not ready to leave. The four musicians stayed on stage, dancing to ‘All Night Long’ by Lionel Richie and continued to interact with the crowd. It’s also worth highlighting the effort the band made to engage with fans who were using the wheelchair-accessible area, which was tucked away to the side of the stage behind the speakers. It was a small but noticeable touch, and one that not every act who performs at the venue takes the time to make.
It’s been nine years since The Hoosiers last came to Norwich, and as the band heads towards their 20th anniversary next year, let’s hope they don’t leave it that long again. In a night filled with colour, warmth, joy and great tunes, I can wholeheartedly tell you: tonight proved there is considerably more to The Hoosiers than the songs that soundtracked the late 2000s.
