Montreal-based outfit Shirehead released their new single, “Kids Just Being Kids,” on 10 October. Erik Kennedy describes the track as leaning heavily into trip-hop and hip-hop territory while addressing racism and football culture.
The song marks a departure from the post-punk and Britpop influences that have characterized much of the band’s output. Frontman Joni Butler has consistently used his platform to challenge nationalist rhetoric, having grown up in England’s pub scene before finding his footing in Nottingham’s music community. That perspective now filters through Shirehead’s evolving sound in Montreal.
Kennedy, who handles keys in the five-piece alongside Jeremy Tremblay (drums), Dylan Paiement (bass), Diego González (guitar), and Joni Butler (vocals/guitar), says the band plans to debut the track live at Mai/son on Halloween, performing alongside Distraction4ever and Bombe.
“Kids Just Being Kids” previews Shirehead’s debut album, Proud To Be, scheduled for February 2026. The album was written, recorded, mixed, and mastered in early 2025, capping a productive stretch that included a debut EP in September 2024 and a remix album in January 2025.
Butler’s journey from supporting acts like Kneecap and Maxïmo Park in the UK to assembling a band in Montreal has given Shirehead a distinct perspective, one that blends his hardcore punk background with the city’s diverse musical palette. The band has built a following through performances at venues including La Sala Rossa and less conventional spaces like a skating rink.
Whether Shirehead’s fusion of British influences and Montreal sensibilities will translate beyond the city’s underground scene remains uncertain, but the band’s output suggests they’re not slowing down. A European tour is planned for spring 2026.
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