A band that's adopted a name like Enter the Haggis clearly isn't afraid to try something different. And the offbeat Celtic-rock collective, which plays The Ark on Friday, November 13, is supporting not only a new album, but also new ways of connecting with fans: live streaming and chatting from the road.

Enter the Haggis has a very devoted following — with a strong Ann Arbor contingent, as demonstrated at its Ark show last year. So the band's new album (its seventh studio recording), called "Gutter Anthems," comes as welcome news.

“We like to experiment musically, pushing the boundaries of what people think of as Celtic music,” said vocalist and guitarist Trevor Lewington in a press release. “Some of our grooves, melodies and lyrics are quite different from other bands that we play with.”

"DNA" - Enter the Haggis

But potentially more intriguing than the new album is the band's use of a USB camera, laptop and wireless internet connection to live much of its touring life in the public eye. The band's web site has a chat room where band members interact with fans, and also features a page that offers live streaming of its concerts and a place for fans ("Haggis Heads") to chat with each other while the band is offline. Live streaming is often announced the day of the show on the band's social media sites, such as their Facebook fan page and Twitter feed.

According to the band's press release, the first time they tried live streaming from the road, 50 people were watching within minutes. Vocalist, fiddler and pianist Brian Buchanan is quoted as saying, "One minute we were bored of the seven hour drive between venues, the next we were using our time productively to interact with our fans."

Now, their concerts draw hundreds and even thousands of viewers online.

My favorite ETH song, "One Last Drink," performed on "Live with Regis and Kelly":

Bob Needham is director of entertainment content for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at bobneedham@annarbor.com or 734-623-2541, and follow him on Twitter @bobneedham.

PREVIEW Enter the Haggis Who: Toronto five-piece band. What: Offbeat Celtic-influenced rock. When: Friday, Nov. 13, 8 p.m. Where: The Ark, 316 S. Main St. How much: $17.50. Information: The Ark web site.