After dropping their third album ‘Onion’ earlier this year, the band are gearing up for their most meaningful live shows yet.
After years of silence and uncertainty, Hard Life (formally Easy Life) are finally heading back on tour—and for frontman Murray Matravers and the rest of the Leicester-born outfit, it’s more than just another set of gigs. After dropping their new album Onion earlier this year, this Autumn’s live shows represent a return not only to the stage but to the very spirit of the band which made a name for themselves with hits like ‘Nightmares’, ‘Peanut Butter’ and ‘Temporary Love Pt 2’.
Picture credit: Murray Matravers
“It feels like our first ever tour again,” Murray tells Pukaar. “We’ve been away for so long and all of us are just so excited. These shows are going to be the best of our lives.”
For a group that once lived life on the road, the forced pause brought on by personal and legal setbacks was disorienting. The band had spent years touring intensively under their previous name, building a devoted fanbase across the UK and beyond. But the break gave them space to reflect—and ultimately, to come back with renewed clarity and purpose.
The upcoming run of shows, including a major date at Nottingham’s iconic Rock City, will be the first under the Hard Life banner. And for the band, that name change signals something deeper: a fresh start.
“We toured so much before that I think we were all a bit fatigued,” says Murray, who now splits his time between London and Tokyo. “Now, after everything, we’ve got perspective.
“This isn’t about proving anything. It’s about reconnecting—with the music, with each other, and with the fans.“
The Rock City show holds special meaning for the band, who have roots in the Midlands and have long considered the region home. While they previously played Leicester whenever they could—even staging a now-legendary gig on a basketball court—Nottingham will serve as a symbolic homecoming.
“There’s always been this rivalry between Leicester and Nottingham,” Murray laughs. “But for us, the Midlands is home. Rock City is such an iconic venue, and it feels like the perfect place for this new chapter.”
Picture credit: Murray Matravers
The energy behind these shows is rooted in the journey the band has been through—legal issues, creative droughts,
and personal upheaval. Matravers admits there were long stretches where he doubted they’d ever make another record. But Onion came together in just one month—a raw, emotional outpouring that captured the weight of the last few years.
Though the new album is more introspective and serious than their previous work, the live shows promise all the passion and intensity fans have come to expect.
“There’s so much energy in the band right now,” says Murray. “We’re just grateful to be here. We thought for so long we might not get to do this again. So now that we can, we’re going to make the most of every moment.”
The band are known for their energetic and engaging performances and an attitude which sees them ‘go with the flow.’
As for what fans can expect this time around? Murray keeps it simple: “It’s going to be loud. It’s going to be emotional. And it’s going to be us—doing what we love, the way we’ve always done it.”
Catch Hard Life at Rock City on November 10.
