Originally Published on March 10th, 2026

~ About the Artist ~

Exciting news out of Oxford, England! The indie/new wave band Black Hats are back after nearly 7 years of a release break with a brand new single.

Mark, Budd, and Nick, the sensational trio who makeup Black Hats, are once more bringing their edgy, multi-faceted, and groovy back to audiences around the world.

Black Hats are a familiar name in the UK. They’ve been seen at both Truck Festival and Wychwood Festival, they’ve supported notorious talents such as Reef, Dodgy, and Stornoway, and their second single, No More Smoke, was featured on the popular shows Shameless and The Magicians.

Black Hats are a dynamic band that have a unique ability with their shared energy that translates to audiences through their live performance. They are notable representatives within the competitive music scene out of Oxford, having been featured in Nightshift Magazine, as well as BBC 6Music and BBC Oxfordshire.

“Influences from Young Knives, Elvis Costello, the Jam, and Gang of Four – more to come for sure? If all bands could write a song like Just Fall then they would have made it.” ~ Nightshift Magazine

~ About the Song ~

Witness to Everything is the first single released by UK indie artist, Black Hats, in 2026. It released on March 09th, 2026 through Hoi Polloi Records. At just over 3 minutes, Witness to Everything is a fresh take on a nostalgic sound, fusing reggae drum and bass with bright guitar and vocals reminiscent of 70’s punk mixed with The anthemic drive of pop rock artists like Tears for Fears.

Witness to Everything is the first release from Black Hats since 2019. From their last release, the EP Bad News Telephone they match the familiarity of their foundational sound with a more intensified arrangement, instrumentally and vocally, and crystal clear production.

I love the ska element to Witness to Everything. The blend of the guitars and horns as they play off of the bass and drums work together in such a pleasant way. It is such an upbeat arrangement, musically.

The vocal performance is just as energetic. It brings classic punk energy with perfectly timed backing vocals.

I really appreciate the production of Witness to Everything. There is a particularly notable change from Bad News Telephone, which sounded more spacious and just a touch too bright. With Witness to Everything, the sound has a more vintage quality, addressing the mids a little more. It sounds more aligned with the bands overall vibe.

Final Thoughts

With their first release in 7 years, Witness to Everything is an exciting, refreshing introduction for the next chapter of this experienced band. The familiar sound of the foundation they’ve been building for nearly 15 years with the added nuances of their evolved partnership. It’s clear the band have grown and they’ve done it together.

For news and updates on future releases and upcoming shows, be sure to visit the band’s website. For those in the Swindon area, there is a show at The Castle tomorrow, and there are more shows following later in the month.

Click here to see Black Hats full touring schedule

Go press play!