HEAVY HEADS KEEP IT LIGHT

Robert Neil

I had arranged to meet one half of The Heavy Heads at The Burgh Bar in Prestwick. As I walked in, straight away I knew the two young men sitting at the table were the guys I had planned to encounter, for they gave off a certain aura that people who are enjoying life seem to give.

Tom Walsh (vocals and guitar) and Callum McKenna (vocals and lead and rhythm guitar) were the fifty percent I met. Not present that evening were Ross Cooper (bass player extraordinaire) and Kevin Borland (drums, percussionist, and seasoned musician), who is affectionately known as Uncle Kev. Kevin, who hails from Girvan, is the only member of the band who does not come from Troon.

At the time of the interview the band had dropped their first three singles, ‘Sam’, ‘Barrels’ and ‘Awake’. They were gearing up to play their first headline gig at the legendary King Tut’s Wah-Wah Hut.

Although they’re very much a melodic indie rock band, they soon revealed the roots of their formation.

Tom explained, “We got together for a laugh to play some country songs at a party for my mum and dad in October 2025.”

I saw Callum’s face light up when he said, “We totally smashed it.”

With his dry humour, he added, “We did a cracking version of ‘Achy Breaky Heart’, but don’t tell anyone!”

They now have a good few gigs under their belt and told me about the first time they played the iconic King Tut’s. Callum said, “It was a fantastic feeling, and my legs turned to jelly when I came off stage.”

Tom, who had a spell as a professional footballer, is slightly more used to crowds. He played for Rangers, Ayr United and Inverness, and it was at the latter club that he sustained the injury that forced him to rethink his career. With a pained expression, he told me, “I knew as soon as the tackle happened. I could feel my knee explode. I could have played on after recovering, but the risks were too high.”

Tom explained that the band draws on a wide range of musical influences, which shape their pick-and-mix style.

“I was really into bands like Kasabian, Oasis and The Verve, but I listen to loads of other music as well. Pointing towards Callum, he added, “He likes lots of different styles too.”

“I do like country music,” Callum interjected, “but more the singer-songwriter style, such as John Prine and Kris Kristofferson.”

Each time I listen to their track I find something different in the sound they create. Honestly, they have the rare gift of sounding totally unique but somehow familiar at the same time.

I praised them on their recorded work so far which in turn led them to enthuse about the rhythm section and producer. They both became animated and, almost at the same time, added, “Ross is an amazing bass player.”

“He has a more left of centre taste to us,” Callum told me, “which includes Hip Hop and some weird stuff. The basslines are just mind blowing.”

Tom continued, “Uncle Kev is a powerhouse on the drums and a real inspiration to us all. He has played in many diverse types of bands, so his experience is vital to our sound. He is also great at giving advice.”

Fast-forward a couple of weeks and The Heavy Heads have played at King Tut’s again but this time as headliners. I caught the whole band on 1st August as they played The Red Lion in Prestwick.

The band took to the floor and delivered a blistering set of songs containing a healthy mix of originals and cover versions. I found it hard to believe a band that sounded so tight and on fire had only been together since October 2025.

They kicked off with a rocked-up version of Pulp’s ‘Disco 2000’ and the energy never dipped. The crowd were lapping up the energy that these four lads were dispensing. My highlight of the set was their brand-new track, ‘Reshuffle The Pack’, which, if I’m being totally honest, is one of the finest Scottish rock songs I’ve heard for a long time. Once again Ayrshire has given us another fantastic band to be proud of.

All their tracks, including ‘Reshuffle the Pack’ are available on the usual streaming platforms, and each has so far been produced by the highly talented Callum Wiseman.

Catch them at Stranraer Oyster Festival on Saturday 12th September and keep an eye on their socials for other gig dates.