It is Independent Venue Week across the UK this week, giving those who keep the country’s music scene thriving the opportunity to showcase the vital role that they play in promoting up-and-coming artists. Here in Nottingham, our very own Billy Bootleggers is diving into the celebrations with a stacked lineup of exciting artists, including the likes of Lizzie Esau, Die Twice, Alien Chicks, and tonight’s attraction, The Hara with High Regard.
The Hara – High Regard
Billy Bootleggers, Nottingham – 28 January 2025
Words And Photography: Matt Pratt
The Mancunian band The Hara, who can boast well over a million plays for a number of their songs on Spotify, are already a familiar name in the music scene. They have already taken headline tours up and down the country and supported the likes of Ice Nine Kills, Escape The Fate and Sum 41. They have also played on some of the largest festival stages in the world, including Reading and Leeds, Download Festival and Rock For People, so they are no strangers to enormous crowds. 
If you have not already encountered them on their travels, you may well have seen them online. Whilst touring was sidelined during the pandemic, the boys remained hard at work developing a hugely impressive social media presence.
Today, The Hara’s TikTok following is comparable to that of immensely popular leaders within the rock scene, such as Spiritbox, Bad Omens and Knocked Loose, so it is no surprise that tonight’s show is a sell-out, but it does make you ponder how the band is still performing in such intimate venues?
The Hara took to the stage with a fresh new look. They have done away with the bombastic neon colours of previous years, replacing them with a look far more fitting with their 2022 hit We All Wear Black. Taylor is shirtless, as is more or less compulsory these days, with an extravagant feathered coat which he vowed to keep on for as long as he could bear, which was no more than four songs in the sweltering heat of the room.
Kennedy, on the drums, was also sporting an eye-catching metallic jaw feature and unsettling coloured contact lenses. There were no such quirky showpieces from Breen, something which he made up for with a surprise later in the set.
The choice of attire is no doubt an intentional one, reflecting the cover art for their new single The System, invoking nostalgic memories of sci-fi cult classics The Matrix and Ghost In The Shell with their futuristic, tech-noir aesthetics. 
The stylish imagery not only makes for a refreshing new look but also alludes to a deeper message about the current landscape of the band. A running theme amongst most dystopian cyberpunk media is the choice of a protagonist. Do they fall in line with the ruling system, or do they fight back at great personal risk to become an individual of free will?
This sentiment is reflected in their new single as Taylor sings “I’d rather die young than fuel the system.” This appears to be a direct reference to the band’s decision to leave their music label following their previous record, becoming fully independent. This is a powerful statement as they become the sole architects of their artistic vision from here on out. 
Their newfound independence shines through as it is clear that there are no shackles holding the trio back this evening. Immense energy from the off, the gig could not have felt more electric, with the band launching into their catalogue of lively rock hits, including Black Soul Ceremony, Afterlife and Talk To The Manager.
You could feel the expertise in live performance emitting from the band, who are not only a well-oiled touring machine but also graduates of BIMM Music Institute. They were as entertaining between songs as during, and you would never have been able to tell that they had such a quiet year in 2024.
The entertainment did not just come from the band, with plenty of crowd participation. A particularly charming moment was when the band were gifted each with a small rubber duck, a reference to the common Nottingham greeting “ay up duck!”
In the second half of the set, things really amped up. The music became heavier, the on-stage antics became crazier, and the crowd really started bouncing. As the songs came hard and fast, Breen revealed a new look that would not be out of place in a horror film.
No longer could we see the smiling face of the enigmatic musician, but in its place a bloodthirsty Panda mask. Longtime fans were quick to recognise this as a feature from the music video for Animals, one of their heaviest songs to date.
Upon approaching the breakdown in the blistering song, Taylor parted the crowd and joined them for a ferocious wall of death, which looked so much fun that I would have been tempted to join them had I not been camera-clad. I’m sure nobody would have wanted a lens to the head.
Approaching the curfew for the night, the band took part in the obligatory encore, which, instead of leaving the stage, consisted of them crouching at the back of the room whilst Kennedy had a chance to shine with a drum solo.
Upon their ‘return’, they concluded the set with their two newest songs, Trophy and The System, before a raucous chorus of clapping, cheering and whooping as they left the stage.
This was an absolutely stunning night of music from all involved and a credit to the independent music scene in what is already a contender for gig of the year in my eyes.
I do not just hope to see both bands back in Nottingham. I insist upon it, and the sooner, the better.
High Regard
Before we were treated to our headline act for the evening, we had a brief yet intense meeting with Hertfordshire outfit, High Regard. The up-and-coming three-piece were a four-piece this evening, with an additional member joining them on the drums.
It remains to be seen as to whether this additional member will be a permanent fixture in the band or if they are just joining them for the tour. What is certain, though, is that they were in fine form, as the band took on the responsibility of warming up the crowd, as were the other members. 
High Regard are hitting the scene at an opportune moment. With a number of hugely talented, female-fronted rock bands making enormous waves in the industry, they are stylistically perfect to make their big break in 2025.
Pairing this with their high-energy performance and sonic excellence leaves me with no doubt that this will not be the last time that we see them in Nottingham. However, it may be the final time we have the opportunity to see them in such an intimate setting. 
I have only had the pleasure of listening to their songs a handful of times over the past few days, yet whilst they were on the stage, the music was delivered with the confidence and mastery that you would expect from a veteran band reeling off their greatest hits.
The band breathlessly delivered their most popular songs including Blindside, Mirror Glass and finishing with Dead To Me, a song recorded with Charlie Rolfe of the equally exciting young band, As Everything Unfolds. 
It was a wonderful introduction to the band for all those in the room unfamiliar with their work and a great reception from the crowd for their efforts. I, for one, definitely hold them in “‘High Regard’ and will be sure to catch them next time they are in town.
