WINONA FIGHTER RETURN WITH NEW SONG
Credit: Katy Kinnon
Following a monumental 2025 defined by the high-octane launch of their debut full-length record, the ascending punk power-house Winona Fighter has officially returned to the fray with their inaugural musical offering of 2026. This latest release finds the band leaning further into the uncompromising and fiercely vocal reputation they have built within the scene. Never ones to shy away from a direct confrontation, the group delivers a sonic assault with their volatile and high-energy new single ‘BOMBS AWAY’, which is available for streaming and purchase right now through Rise Records.
Discussing the inspiration behind the high-octane new track, frontwoman Coco Kinnon shares: “Everybody needs a song right now.”
The arrival of ‘BOMBS AWAY’ marks the definitive next chapter for Winona Fighter, serving as the official follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut full-length effort, MY APOLOGIES TO THE CHEF. The band previously deepened the impact of that record by unveiling a comprehensive deluxe edition last fall. This expanded version invited listeners into a different side of their artistry with acoustic reimagining of every original track, alongside high-energy covers of the Beastie Boys’ ‘Sabotage’ and Violent Femmes’ ‘Blister In The Sun,’ plus the addition of the fresh original song ‘(Don’t Get) CLOSE’. Fans can continue to stream or purchase My Apologies To The Chef Deluxe HERE.
In a showcase of their relentless work ethic, Winona Fighter will be performing at Welcome To Rockville later today, and the momentum will only build as fans prepare to catch them on the road this summer for the idobi Radio Summer School Tour. This month-long trek, which boasts a stacked lineup featuring Honey Revenge, South Arcade, Games We Play, and Chase Petra, is set to kick off on June 19th. Furthermore, the band is slated for a high-profile return to Vans Warped Tour this year, appearing at the highly anticipated Long Beach and Mexico City dates. For a comprehensive list of all upcoming performances, please refer to the details below or visit: HERE.
Operating out of Nashville, Winona Fighter - comprising frontwoman and multi-instrumentalist Coco Kinnon, lead guitarist Dan Fuson, and bassist/producer Austin Luther - first coalesced following Kinnon's relocation from Boston. They immediately commanded attention with their 2022 debut EP, Father Figure. While three cornerstone tracks from that release, ‘Subaru,’ ‘You Look Like A Drunk Phoebe Bridgers,’ and ‘Wlbrn St Tvrn’, were meticulously re-recorded for their debut album, MY APOLOGIES TO THE CHEF, their inherent power and potency remain entirely undiluted. The palpable rage and frustration woven through these songs, which also fuels the band’s notoriously kinetic and magnetic live performances, feels more visceral, pointed, and essential than ever, a quality that permeates their entire discography.
Captured and recorded by Austin Luther within his home studio environment, MY APOLOGIES TO THE CHEF stands as a brilliantly raw and cohesive meditation on modern existence. The record successfully bottles the spirited, cathartic energy of their stage presence while navigating the pervasive angst and anxiety of contemporary life. The sonic tone is established instantly by ‘JUMPERCABLES,’ an infectious indie-punk anthem that balances fun with fire, followed by the soaring hooks and trademark choruses of ‘You Look Like A Drunk Phoebe Bridgers’ and ‘Subaru.; The album’s range is further showcased on ‘Swimmer’s Ear,’ which finds a equilibrium between tender aggression and self-deprecation, the heart-wrenching narrative of substance abuse on ‘Johnny’s Dead,’ and the explosive, defiant self-affirmation found in ‘Swear To God That I’m (FINE).’ Meanwhile, the track ‘U FAMOUS’ stands out as one of the record's more aggressive moments, delivering a blast of bitter vitriol that is skillfully tempered by the band's characteristic humor, intelligence, and nuance.
While the delivery across these tracks is defined by its sheer strength, there is a consistent thread of raw vulnerability running underneath. It is Winona Fighter’s unique capacity to overcome that vulnerability, and the specific adversities that sparked it, which ultimately renders this album a truly special debut.
