We are sitting down and chatting with The Goodfellows, a band renowned for their cheeky charm and cracking performances that never fail to pack the dance floor. Born from a blend of friendship, fashion (yes, bowler hats included), and a shared passion for music, this group isn’t just about delivering tunes—they create experiences. Their knack for reading the room and adjusting their eclectic setlists ensures every event is a blast, from raucous weddings to sophisticated corporate gigs. Dive into our interview to discover how The Goodfellows keep the vibes high and the crowds jumping, making every gig a night to remember. Whether it’s the timeless appeal of “Proud Mary” or a cheeky interaction with the crowd, these lads know how to make an event unforgettable. Let’s meet your new favourite live band!
How did you create your band name?
We consider ourselves friendly, smart and fun-loving and wanted a name that conveyed that. I’ve always wanted an excuse to wear a bowler hat, so once we decided on the look, the name just followed naturally.
What makes your band different than any other?
Well, we strive to keep up a high standard of musicianship, communication, professionalism and attention to detail. We also take pride in our organisation, punctuality and making sure our clients, be it a couple getting married or a corporate event, always feel assured and at ease that we will deliver the goods.
What is your signature style?
We put a focus on harmonies that run throughout most of the songs we do, and play in a pretty upbeat, foot-stomping, Mumford-style of play.
Do you have a pre- or post-show ritual?
If it’s a wedding, after we’ve finished our last set, a slice of cake is compulsory.
Favorite thing about playing events?
Weddings are very fulfilling because it’s such an important and memorable day that brings people together. We really enjoy being such a fun part of it (that people tend to look forward to), and making sure we get the dance floor filled.
Tell me your funniest gig moment.
Probably when a groomsman was egged on by the crowd around the dance floor to remove his clothing until he was left with just his shoes and socks on.
Favorite song to perform and why.
Proud Mary. It’s just timeless and never fails to get a good reaction from the crowd as it builds, you can see the crowd find it irresistible not to hit the dance floor.
How do you create a set list?
As every crowd is different, we like to leave ourselves the flexibility to read the room on the night. You can get a sense of what type of songs/genres the crowd is collectively into, so it’s fun to then respond to that by going down that particular musical avenue.
How has your band evolved over time?
When we started out we really enjoyed stompy, raucous style of play throughout the set, but over time we have diversified into other genres to include a few more modern tunes and crossing into pop-punk, rock’n’roll classics and also a bit more indie.
How do you like to interact with the crowd at an event?
It’s part of the job I really enjoy as the singer. To have a laugh with the crowd, getting the livelier dancers to bust out their signature moves, goad some of the people sat around the peripherals onto the dancefloor and do a little interaction with the singing etc.
What do you like about performing live?
That every show is unique and when you get a crowd that really appreciate live music, they feed off what you’re doing and get themselves immersed in the party atmosphere. We’re very social so we love that we get to meet new people every time we go to an event.
What are the most requested wedding songs? Corporate event songs?
Hmm. Wedding song is probably the likes of ‘Proud Mary’ which is just as well because we love that one. Corporate tend to go for more crowd- pleasing artists like Ed Sheeran or The Killers.
Check out The Goodfellows in action: https://topdog-entertainment.com/topdog-artists/the-goodfellows/