The Haggis Horns are a 7 piece live funk extravaganza; a brass heavy funk powerhouse that has been rocking clubs up and down the UK for years, combining breakbeat funk, soul, hip-hop and afrobeat with the virtuosity of trained jazz musicians.

Leeds-based instrumental funk outfit The Haggis Horns have done extensive work with Mark Ronson, lending their lungs to perform live what was the Dap Kings’ studio role, and performing with Mark on countless live dates and TV appearances. Members of the band have performed and recorded with many top artists including Amy Winehouse, John Legend, Jamiroquai, Nightmares on Wax, Martha Reeves, Corinne Bailey-Rae, Adele, Robbie Williams, Roots Manuva, Estelle, Duran Duran, Snowboy, Lou Donaldson, Lily Allen, and The Cinematic Orchestra. The Horns also feature on legendary deep funk album “Keb Darge presents the New Mastersounds”.

Debut 7″ “Hot Damn!” was released in November 2006, followed by 12″ “The Traveller p. 1 & 2″ , which won the band even more widespread acclaim. Two more funk-fueled bombs followed for the summer and after the success of these debut singles the boys were super-busy touring with Mark Ronson, but they found time to hit the studio. “Got To Lose Your Way” is a ridiculously funky vocal cut featuring the dulcet tones of John McCallum, while the flip rocks to their brilliant take on Kool & The Gangʼs classic “Whoʼs Gonna Take The Weight”, making the two sides a heavy combination indeed.

After three sell-out singles and a decade of gigging across the globe The Haggis Horns released their long awaited debut album “Hot Damn!”, which sums up everything about them: at itʼs core, hard-hitting dancefloor funk, but also exploring reggae influences, loose-limbed instrumental hip hop and slamming afrobeat. Add in a couple of cover versions that have been popular additions to the bandʼs legendary live shows, and you have the funkiest sound this side of The JBs from a band at the top of their game!

Following the tragic loss of founding member Jason Rae in 2008, the band hit the studio and recorded their follow up full-length, “Keep On Movin’”, which delivered more heavy funk and afrobeat-inspired instant dance floor classics. Guest vocalist this time was Nia Saw (aka Lucinda Slim) who has performed around the world with the likes of Zap Mama and is also a funk aficionado, DJing alongside Keb Darge at their long established Deep Funk night at Madame Jojo‘s in London’s Soho.

Third album, “What Comes To Mind“ was released in 2015 on the band’s newly-founded label Haggis Records, and once again saw The Haggis Horns feature their favorite guest vocalists Lucinda Slim and John McCallum as well as Geordie singer John Turrell from Smoove & Turrell. The album is packed full of feel-good funk, soul and boogie that pays homage to the band’s musical heroes of the 1970s – Kool & The Gang, Donald Byrd, The Blackbyrds, The Mizell Brothers, Earth Wind & Fire and of course, the Average White Band.

2017 saw The Haggis Horns release their much-anticipated fourth album “One Of These Days“, as per usual providing a heavy dose of funk/jazz-funk dancefloor bangers but also adding a nice mix of disco/boogie and sweet laid back 70s style soul. This album again saw the band calling on the vocal chops of Lucinda Slim and John Turrell on two tracks each, but the band also teamed up with talented rapper Doc Brown on another two tunes, “What’s It All About” and first single “Take It Back”, a block party jam that immediately garnered praise and worldwide radioplay.

3 years later, and having spent much time in the studio to get things just right, the time is ripe for the release of the band’s much-anticipated fifth album, “Stand Up For Love“, proving once again why The Haggis Horns are still on top after more than two decades!

 

For more:
The Haggis Horns’ website
The Haggis Horns on facebook
The Haggis Horns on twitter
The Haggis Horns on instagram
The Haggis Horns on bandcamp

Releases