The Haiku | en

In these days of instant gratification and apathy, it's refreshing to see a band looking at things a little differently. Sitting somewhere between Folk-Rock and Indie-Pop, without slotting neatly in to either pigeonhole, The Haiku, proudly independent and fiercely original, refer to their musical creation as “Power Folk”.

They have been around since 2006, and are constantly honing and improving their craft. Their line up, consisting of punk-folk acoustic guitar, vocals and drums (with a little piano thrown in for good measure) is certainly not your average indie-rock band and audiences are often taken by surprise at the intensity and quality of the sound created by such a minimal arrangement. The Haiku show that the acoustic guitar does not have to be a quiet instrument.

Each and every show is an energetic performance of incredibly personal songs, which somehow manage to speak to each individual member of the audience. Anyone who’s ever loved and lost; or been disillusioned with the state of the world; or been frustrated with the unfairness of life; yet enjoyed the feeling of hope for the future, will understand and appreciate what The Haiku have to offer.

Their work ethic is pleasantly different, and you'd be hard pressed to find a band around today who put more effort in. Regular interaction with fans is something the band take very seriously, and they are acutely aware that without people to listen, the band means nothing. Thankfully, people do want to listen, now moreso than ever.

The differences don't stop with the music either. The band are highly professional about how they manage themselves, and are more than happy to remain independent from the standard “record company” route, to which many bands aspire. Doing it their own way allows them more room to express themselves without compromising, and importantly they can stay close to their fanbase. Every single CD you can buy from their self maintained website, (www.thehaiku.co.uk) - or from one of their numerous gigs around the country, is hand made and often personalised. .