The Gardening Club return with “Gnarly Hearts”, a progressive rock single that brings together several different textures while keeping the focus on the song itself. Released on August 14, 2026, the track comes from a Toronto- and Victoria, BC-based band founded by Martin Springett. With nine albums already behind them, the group has built a body of work shaped by progressive rock and a wide range of other influences. “Gnarly Hearts” was written by Martin Springett and Kevin Laliberte, with Springett also handling the lyrics. Laliberte takes care of the production, bringing together a lineup of musicians, each adding something distinctive to the arrangement.
Springett provides the vocals, acoustic guitars, and guitar solo, giving the track a strong guitar presence from the start. Kevin Laliberte adds slide guitar, bass, and keyboards for the second part, while Prof Rob Burns plays bass for the first part. John Sheard contributes keyboards as well. Having these different players involved gives the song plenty of detail, and there is enough going on in the arrangement to make repeated listens worthwhile. The guitar work is one of the highlights for me. The acoustic guitars give the song a grounded quality, while the slide guitar brings a different shade to the arrangement. Springett’s guitar solo also gives the track a nice instrumental moment without taking attention away from the rest of the song.
I really enjoyed the combination of guitars and keyboards here, especially the way the arrangement develops across the different parts. I also like how “Gnarly Hearts” gives the musicians room to contribute their own character rather than keeping everything overly simple. The Gardening Club has created a thoughtful piece of progressive rock that reflects the experience of a band with years of musical experience. “Gnarly Hearts” is a good introduction to their work for anyone discovering the group for the first time, while longtime listeners will have another track to add to their collection.
If you enjoy progressive rock, guitar-driven songwriting, and recordings with plenty of instrumental detail, give “Gnarly Hearts” a listen and take some time to explore more from The Gardening Club. Make sure to follow the band on their music and social platforms so you can keep up with their future releases, and add the track to your playlist if it connects with you. It is always worth keeping an ear out for artists who continue to create new music while bringing years of experience to their work.
