The brilliant The Hoosier’s have a fab new album out in September and their latest tour sees them swinging by both Newcastle and Durham.

The Hoosiers’ latest album ‘Confidence’ feels aptly named because it showcases a band at the very top of their game. It’s a release resplendent with glorious indie-pop hooks and the kind infectious melodies that take up residency in your brain. And it’s a very welcome return for a band who first rose to prominence in 2007 with their classic album ‘The Trick to Life’, which spawned singles such as ‘Worried About Ray’, ‘Goodbye Mr A’ and ‘Cops and Robbers’. Further albums included ‘The Illusion of Safety’ (which spawned the hit ‘Choices’), ‘The News from Nowhere’ and ‘The Secret Service’. That last album came out in 2015 so it’s been quite a wait for ‘Confidence’ to emerge, but, thankfully, it’s a release thrumming with everything that makes the band so special: that effortless joie de vivre they manage to conjure that sweeps all before it. They are an AMAZING live outfit (yes, caps) and it’s great that they’ve found time to play two shows in the region this autumn. Make sure you’re at one of them – at the very least. GM

The Hoosiers: Friday 22 September, Durham Cathedral, 7pm, from £30, thehoosiers.com; Sunday 1 October, Boiler Shop, Newcastle, 7pm, £22.50, boilershop.net