Haiver, Scotland On Sunday, 24 May 2026
Haiver > Off Axis Artist of the Week in Scotland On Sunday, 24 May 2026
With a new album due out next month and a UK tour on the horizon, we should expect to hear a lot more from Haiver in the second half of this year write Derick Mackinnon and Olaf Furniss read Scotsman.com
Haiver came about through former Frightened Rabbit member Billy Kennedy bumping into bassist John Bonnar in a gym changing room, with the pair promptly enlisting drummer Findlay Wallace Brown (an expert in Herringbone flooring) and guitarist Craig Brownlee.
Kennedy leads on song-writing duties, penning many of his lyrics on bus journeys around Glasgow, and describes the band’s sound as ranging from gentle to anthemic. This magical blend has led to sell-out shows Scottish shows in 2025, as well as a European tour supporting The Boxer Rebellion. Moreover, radio attention spans domestic stalwarts Vic Galloway and Roddy Hart, to international tastemakers KEXP in the Seattle.
The band’s next single Crime is out on 12 June and will be accompanied by a video, with the album The Ghost Dance released the following month on vinyl, CD and digital. Produced by Paul Gallagher, it also features contributions by Devin Casson, as well as former Frightened Rabbit members Andy Monaghan and Simon Liddel. Haiver are confirmed for the Made In Scotland Gigs showcase in Edinburgh on 17 August, which is set to be announced later this week, while a UK tour to follow towards the end of the year visit https://www.haiver.co.uk/
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