People only end up in Carlisle by accident. It’s on the boundary of England and Scotland, on the edge of the Lake District but not the countryside. The center of Carlisle is an iconic business, Stobart Logistics, whose sole purpose is to take things away from Carlisle via the city’s best known roundabout, Hardwicke Circus.

Another export making their way through the towns, villages and cities of the United Kingdom is Carlisle’s own Hardwicke Circus, a five-piece band winning praise from all quarters.

“It’s unsurprising to hear [lead vocalist and guitarist Jonny] Foster talk in such glowing terms about Dylan, and not just because, well, he’s Bob Dylan. Perhaps more than many other young band these days, there is a deliberate low-fi, almost traditional rock’n’roll feel to the band’s music and aesthetic; The press has drawn comparisons between Foster and Mick Jagger, while others might look at the mops and leather jackets and immediately think of The Jam,” GQ magazine wrote about Hardwicke Circus

Hardwicke Circus was formed by brothers Jonny and Tom Foster, who had a passion for making music from an early age. They developed a reputation on their street for making a racket but they were not to be deterred. Throughout their school years, they surrounded themselves with the best musicians Carlisle, (which the brothers have been known to call a center of English drunkenness), had to offer, more than once poaching them from other school bands.  

When their friends began the university treadmill, Hardwicke Circus jumped in a van, hit the road, and haven’t looked back. They earned their stripes in Hells Angels pubs, clubs, theatres and prisons, the long journeys making rebel rousing music with the music of Dylan, Springsteen, Philadelphia Soul, Motown, the Stray Cats and more “all fuel us to get our voices heard loud and clear wherever we land,” Foster said.

Their dynamic live shows and songwriting found a fan and a manager in renowned music veteran Dave Robinson, whose resume includes serving as road manager for Jimi Hendrix and as co-founder of Stiff Records. 

Having gained a large internet following through playing over 700 live shows, this band has what ittakes to go all the way. Watching them live only enforces this belief. Their sound brings comparisons with thebrio of the E Street Band and the dark passion of classic Doors, but with plenty of British authenticity andperhaps even a hint of Dexy’s in their high voltage attack. 

The Hardwickes - as they are known colloquially - have supported Bob Dylan & Neil Young inHyde Park, Madness, Alabama 3, Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, Bob Geldof’s Boomtown Ratsand The Blockheads. They have gigged at the legendary Isle of Wight Festival, Reading & Leeds, headlinedthe Yam Riot Stage at Kendal Calling and gained airplay on BBC Introducing, Radio 1, Radio 2 & 6 Music.HC have completed a four month residency at the famous Hope & Anchor in London and have released three albums - their studio debut “The Borderland", a Live Prison album “At Her Majesty’sPleasure”, and most recently their sophomore album "Fly The Flag". This summer gone - at the request of Sir Paul McCartney - the band was invited to play at Glastonbury,headlining the Rabbit Hole at 3am in the morning. The last band to play Glastonbury 2022. The last turkeys in the shop. 

With every new show, more and more fans get on board, because this is a group where there's so much towatch as well as to listen to. On stage and on record, there's an echo of the energy of such modern-day heroes as The Killers. “It's a very musical endeavour,” avows Foster. “Putting the song at the front of everything we do. To have five people channel that same vision, I think we're really lucky.”