The Kooks

The Kooks (rhymes with 'dukes') are an English indie rock band formed in 2004 in Brighton. The current lineup consists of Luke Pritchard on vocals and guitar, Hugh Harris on bass, guitar, and synthesiser and Alexis Nuñez on drums and percussion.

Their music is primarily influenced by the 1960s British Invasion movement and post-punk revival of the new millennium. The Kooks have experimented in several genres including rock, Britpop, pop, reggae, ska, and more recently, funk and hip-hop, being described once as a "more energetic Thrills or a looser Sam Roberts Band, maybe even a less severe Arctic Monkeys at times".

After securing a deal with Virgin Records merely three months after forming, The Kooks achieved instant mainstream success following the release of their critically acclaimed 2006 debut album Inside In/Inside Out. The album is certified five-times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), platinum certified by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), and two times platinum by Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA). Further success followed, with the Kooks winning Best UK & Ireland Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2006 and receiving a nomination at The Brit Awards for the single "She Moves in Her Own Way".

Their 2008 follow-up Konk debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, recording first week sales of 65,000 and achieving gold status in both the UK and Ireland. They have since released five studio albums, with their most recent, 2025's Never/Know, reaching number five on the UK chart.

Released in 2025, Never/Know is The Kooks' latest album. On Eirewave you'll hear 12 of their songs, from Seaside (Acoustic) (2006) all the way to Connection (2022), and we played Shine On today.