Town roots for rising American stars (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Town roots for rising American stars

4:40pm Thursday 3rd May 2012 in News By Andrea Glennon

WITH British teen bands taking America by storm this year, one American group is hoping to emulate that success on this side of the Atlantic.

And Cirencester would be a dream destination for one member of rockers Goodbye Friday, who are getting used to selling out 40,000-seat stadiums.

Because for bassist Mark Braun, Cirencester is not only home to his entire family, but also the place his mum grew up and where she had been living until about 25 years ago when she left for New Jersey in USA.

It is Nicky’s love for the town that prompted her to want friends and family back home to know how the indie band were on the brink of signing a contract with a major record label and riding a wave of international success.

The boys – Mark, lead singer and guitarist Rocco Costanza, guitarist Aaron Henriquez, and drummer Anthony Arci – are all 18-year-olds who met in 2008 at high school.

Four years on and they have performed hundreds of gigs and radio appearances. Another factor in their success was being picked up by the USA’s biggest clothing store, Tilley’s, which screens videos of the band in all its stores.

They will also be performing in front of 40,000 people at Liberty State Park next month at a concert to mark the 100th anniversary of the girl scouts movement in America.

And later this year Goodbye Friday will headline the New Jersey Meadowlands State Fair alongside US household names including Ryan Cabrera, Joe Jonas, Sarah Barreilles and Rachel Crow.

Mark told the Standard: "After we made it into the top five out of thousands of bands in a huge national contest we played at a festival called Bamboozle and things just went from there.

"It's been an amazing few months and we can't wait to see what else is in store."

The group is now working on future hit single Hollywood Baby. "We’ve had record labels express interest in us and we’re looking forward to releasing our first album with a major label this year," added Mark.

Nicky said she just wanted music fans in Cirencester and the UK to discover Goodbye Friday's music as people in America had heard of The Wanted and One Direction: "I can't believe how far they've come and I hope one day we can come back to Cirencester to perform."

For more information go to goodbyefriday.com