The Goa Express, led by Clarke alongside his brother Joe and best friends Joey, Naham and Sam, met as young teenagers in Burnley. Growing up in the rural shadow of England’s industrial north, music was a means of escape and a vessel for friendship. Their shared adolescent experiences (late gigs at The Golden Lion in Todmorden, camping underneath the cliffs at Hebden Bridge) shaped their collective attitudes and behaviours and, ultimately, the sound and spirit of their band.Post-lockdown, the 5-piece stormed out of the gates with intent. The Goa Express played over a hundred UK/EU gigs in 2022, including stops at Glastonbury, Latitude and The Great Escape, as well as across Europe. They’ve since found three of their tracks on the 6-Music playlist with consistent support from Steve Lamacq, as well having coverage from key press outlets including being on the cover of So Young Magazine.There is a sense of melody and a looseness in the music that brings to mind Supergrass or The La’s (for the online generation). But it is all delivered with a forward-facing urgency that places the band firmly in the year 2023. Any new young guitar band - especially from the North of England – is naturally cast into a sea of references and comparisons before barely getting a chord out. But in truth, The Goa Express are confidently breaking free of these and taking their own strides towards adding a fresh chapter to the story of modern British guitar pop. Dinked Edition: ● “Rhubarb and Custard” coloured vinyl* ● Alternative artwork over sleeve* ● Signed & hand-numbered edition* ● Printed lyric insert ● Limited pressing of 500* *EXCLUSIVE to Dinked Edition
