Hairband - Under the Plow LP (ruby red vinyl)

Something of a Glasgow underground supergroup – featuring members of previous/current much-loved bands including Spinning Coin, Breakfast Muff, The Yawns, Lush Purr, Rocky Lorelei, Kaputt and Tarantula – Hairband are Emma Smith (drums), Rowan Wright (guitar, vocals), Simone Wilson (guitar, bass, vocals), Sephi Lock (bass, guitar, vocals) and Rachel Taylor (guitar, vocals). With a trio of guitars, their music blends intricate, jangly riffs with danceable beats, hooky bass lines, sweet melodies and layered vocal harmonies. Sephi and Rachel are from Toronto, Canada, while Simone, Rowan and Emma are from Glasgow, Dundee and Stirlingshire respectively. They met and became friends by going to gigs and playing on bills together in previous bands, before deciding to get together in a shared rehearsal space which eventually became their practice home. Hairband formed in 2016. Following a relocation by Rachel to Berlin, the band has been operating long distance since 2019.

Hairband’s debut self-titled five-song EP was the debut release by renowned Glasgow record shop Monorail Music in October 2018, and received media support from the likes of Line of Best Fit, Clash, The Skinny, The National, Brooklyn Vegan and more. Other highlights that year for Hairband included their first UK tour, and supporting Sleaford Mods on two of their Scotland tour dates, including at the iconic Glasgow Barrowlands. A second tour followed in summer 2019, plus live sessions for BBC 6 Music’s Marc Riley and BBC Radio Scotland’s Nicola Meighan. Hairband have shared bills with bands such as The Raincoats, Brix and the Extricated, Terry and The Yummy Fur, and also played at festivals including Freakender and Doune the Rabbit Hole. They were nominated for Best Newcomer at The Scottish Alternative Music Awards 2017 and played the SAY Awards Ceremony 2018 at Paisley Town Hall. 

In March 2020, in the nick of time pre-lockdown, the band recorded their 10-track debut album, Under the Plow, with Ronan Fay at Green Door Studios in Glasgow. It was mixed by Jack Davis, mastered by Ross McGowan and features artwork by Alanna Hernandez