ard-Fi make their welcome return with brand new single ‘Don’t Go Making Plans’ on Ignition Records. Their first new material in ten years, the track marks a taste of a forthcoming EP of brand new songs, as well as a big UK headline tour this November.
Rolling around a sun-scorched groove and boisterous beats, ‘Don’t Go Making Plans’ is an immediate, soul-infused summer anthem, recorded at the band’s own Staines studio, produced by frontman Richard Archer and long-term contributor Wolsey White. It’s the end result of the first session together since 2011 album Killer Sounds and follows a series of sold-out tours and live shows over the last 18 months – listen HERE
As with many of the band’s songs, there is a thought-provoking depth behind Hard-Fi’s pop sensibility. The song’s defiant themes were initially inspired by the UK Government’s attempts to criminalise many aspects of popular protest through the 2022 Public Order Act, while the issue has been thrown into even sharper focus over the last year as police and people have repeatedly clashed on streets around the globe. Watch the striking lyric video HERE
“Don’t Go Making Plans is sort of a protest song about protest, but I wanted to encapsulate that message into something that was still a pop song,” Archer explains. “A track that you can still dance to in a club or play on the radio, because a song like that you can make a real connection to and circumnavigates the pointless restrictions being put in our way. Governments passing laws to stop protests that ’cause more than minor disruption feels like something out of a dystopian film. The whole point of protest is disruption. You’re trying to interrupt the inevitable flow of things, to encourage the people running the country to think again, especially when you have a government that doesn’t seem to be bothered by what people actually need.”
The new single is taken from the forthcoming Don’t Go Making Plans EP released on November 1st, available on limited edition, numbered, transparent red 12″ – pre-order HERE
The new music is released alongside news of a 10-date UK headline tour in November which will see a homecoming show at London’s Roundhouse on the 30th. Pre-sale takes place Wednesday, 22nd May @ 10.00am for those signed up in advance at https://hard-fi.planet.fans/aaa/register, otherwise, all dates go on general sale this Friday, 24th May, at 10.00am (BST) – tickets available HERE
“Playing gigs together really rekindled the fire at the heart of the band, and as much as we enjoyed playing our older songs – and audiences loved hearing them.” concludes Archer. “We all felt the urge to create something new.”
With over a million UK album sales, 2 Number 1 albums (3 top 10s), and 5 Top 20 singles, Hard-Fi have been a phenomenon. Having made their debut with the Mercury Prize-shortlisted Stars Of CCTV in 2005, the four-piece proved progressive yet accessible, with tales of high street life, club-driven weekends and keeping your head above water on the breadline. The album yielded singles that included ‘Hard To Beat’, ‘Living For The Weekend’ and ‘Cash Machine’ – reached number 1, and has since been certified double platinum in the UK alone.
Second album Once Upon A Time In The West also topped the charts, and included lead single ‘Suburban Knights’, whilst third album Killer Sounds, was a Top 10 hit. The band also played one of the longest residencies at O2 Academy Brixton, a fully sold out feat they share with the likes of Bob Dylan, and The Clash, after performing at the landmark London venue for five nights straight in 2006.
Hard-Fi are back. Catchier, louder and more defiant than ever.
UK TOUR DATES
November Sat 16th Hastings, White Rock
Tue 19th Portsmouth, Guildhall
Thu 21st Cardiff, Tramshed
Fri 22nd Wolverhampton, Wulfrun
Sat 23rd Nottingham, Rock City
Mon 25th Glasgow, Garage
Tue 26th Sheffield, The Leadmill
Wed 27th Manchester, Ritz
Fri 29th Leeds, Stylus
Sat 30th London, Roundhouse
Hard-Fi are Richard Archer (vocals, guitars keyboards), Steve Kemp (drums), Kai Stephens (bass) and Ross Phillips (guitars)