Holy Coves: Lion’s Den, Manchester

Holy Coves / Hazy Sundays / Kieran Arnold
Lion’s Den, Manchester
11th April 2026

Holy Coves return to Manchester to launch their new single, Hole, taken from forthcoming album Hiraeth, with friends in tow.

Tonight sees 3 bands/artists, all living and breathing the DIY route from England, Scotland and Wales, perform at sold-out Lion’s Den, each represented by faithful fans (judging by the T-shirts on display). Unlike on some occasions where there is a mix, it was great to see all punters stayed, supporting all the bands, despite there being a variety in musical styles.

Kieran Arnold is first on with plenty of local support. The singer-songwriter had been billed as a solo acoustic act, so it was a slight surprise as I headed up the narrow staircase to find him there with a full band. As I’d find out, he’s accompanied by Harry, Sam, Ben, and his wife Kerry on backing vocals, all of whom look to be having a great time on stage. It’s hard to pin down the sound, but I think country tinged Mancunian pop is the best I can manage with a strong sense of storytelling at its core. It’s all new material to me, but recent single Molly and crowd favourite The Place We Live tie for my favourites of the night.

Hazy Sundays are up next. I’m a little more familiar with the Glaswegian quartet, having played them on a few occasions on Louder Than War Radio. It’s been almost a year since they self-released their debut album Chaos In Harmony. There is minimal chat initially from frontman Shaun Kenny as the band opens with a tight opening salvo dominated by some classic garage rock riffs. When things really kick in, it’s hard not to compare them to Honey’s Dead era JAMC, which is no bad thing. A blistering set that leaves the ears ringing.

There’s a great atmosphere at the venue with everyone getting along. With three bands on and a fairly tight running schedule, you would be forgiven for expecting some friction or possibly delays; however, all seemingly runs smoothly and runs to time. Holy Coves take to the stage with little fanfare, with their leader Scott Marsden front and centre, as they prepare to deliver their finely honed psychedelic rock from the land of song.

I’ll be honest, Holy Coves don’t look like your average band; they are an imposing collection of individuals who look more akin to a crack military unit ready to go undercover behind enemy lines or a WWE Faction about to enter the ring at WrestleMania. Tonight gives fans an opportunity to revisit some choice cuts from their 2022 album Druids And Bards, as well as a smattering from Hiraeth, the new album which is due on 14th August. The set opens with the title track from the new album; it’s a slow burn, setting the atmosphere in a Floydish way before The Hurt Within and Small And Nothing from their previous release.

One of the reasons for the gig is to launch the new single, Hole, which was released on Friday. Like the previous single, Falling Down, which will be the penultimate number in the set, Hole is a slight departure in the band’s sound, although, as with all their recordings, the drums focus prominently on their songs, and they sound taut and powerful throughout this evening. Chatting to Scott prior to the gig, he explained that the single had been informed by the small town negative mindset he saw, repeating cycles of toxic relationships, drugs, alcohol and addiction. After his Mum passed away last year, he got thinking about death. ‘We don’t have much time here’, he explained, ‘We really do need to make the most of the time we have, and to make each day count. If something’s wrong, we really have to look at ourselves and try to understand that only we can break the cycle of hurt. Finally letting go of that victim mindset and accepting accountability is the only way to truly move forward. There really is always a light at the end of the tunnel, however hard it may seem.’

After a cheers and rapturous applause for the new release, we’re treated to a trio of tracks from Druids And Bards covering around 20minutes, Desert Storm, Another Day and Taste The Wine. Travelling is another new song getting an airing tonight and another slight departure in sound, bordering on country rock. It’s a number I’ll be looking forward to hearing again. The set is well mixed with old and new, although there isn’t room for anything from the band’s debut album, 2012’s Peruvian Mistake. The next three tracks, Grey, Until I Fall, and Away We Go, would be fit to close any gig, especially the latter, the upbeat opening track from the last album being a highlight of the night, but the band have more in store for us. If the aforementioned, penultimate Falling Down wasn’t enough, the band close on This Stone Is Heavy, apparently the opening track from the new album. It’s an epic guitar drenched workout which leaves the crowd shouting for more.

On what I’ve heard tonight, Hiraeth is going to be one of the must listen to albums of 2026.

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Photos courtesy of Phil Marsden Photography. Find him via his Instagram

All words by Iain Key. See his author profile here or find him via his LinkTree