Haven

Originally established in Cornwall along England’s southwestern coast, the British indie quartet Haven shifted their operations to Manchester during 1999. Former Smiths manager Joe Moss had already taken notice of the group, and ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr soon extended his support as well. With Gary Briggs handling vocals, Nat Wason on guitar, Iwan Gronow on bass, and Jack Mitchell behind the drums, the band adopted the name Haven after a local holiday camp in jest, only later recognizing how aptly it captured the refuge their music supplied. The four had already been rehearsing and performing throughout their home region when Moss first encountered them. Once settled in the north, they secured a regular slot at Manchester’s Night & Day club while also opening for Marr’s project the Healers and for Badly Drawn Boy.

After signing with the independent imprint Radiate, Haven issued their debut EP Til the End in early 2001, drawing widespread praise. Further roadwork preceded the July arrival of the single “Beautiful Thing,” which earned additional acclaim. “Let It Live,” their next release, marked the initial output from the Johnny Marr-produced sessions that yielded their first album. That full-length effort, Between the Senses, surfaced in early 2002 alongside a licensing agreement with Virgin for the American market. U.S. listeners received Between the Senses in October 2002.