The Goon Sax
The Goon Sax | Image: Hugo Nobay

Brisbane’s The Goon Sax Have Announced Their Breakup

Brisbane indie-pop outfit The Goon Sax have announced their breakup. News of the trio’s split was shared on social media overnight, with the group revealing that “after nine years of giving it our everything we’ve decided to draw the curtain on this band.”

The statement continued, “It’s taken us places stranger, more beautiful, and far beyond anything we could have imagined, and brought us to meeting and working with so many special and incredibly inspiring people. Our gratitude to everyone who’s been with us and allowed the madness of the last 9 years to happen is far beyond anything we can palpably express.”

The Goon Sax – ‘In The Stone’

The Goon Sax formed in 2013. The band released their first album, Up To Anything, to widespread acclaim in 2016, and followed up with We’re Not Talking in 2018. In 2020, the trio of Riley Jones (drums, vocals), Louis Forster (guitars, vocals) and James Harrison (guitars, vcoals) signed with iconic New York City label Matador.

The Goon Sax’s third album, 2021’s Mirror II, was described as “a new beginning” by the label. Matador shared a statement in response to the news of the band’s split. “Though we’re sad and disappointed by this news, we respect the band’s decision,” they explained. “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with Louis, Riley and James and look forward to whatever they do next, individually or collectively.”

The Goon Sax are cancelling their upcoming tour of the US, which would have seen them join fellow Matador artists Interpol and Spoon on their joint headline tour, in addition to performing shows with the recently-reformed Pavement. However, The Goon Sax have promised they’ll play “one or two more shows” in Australia before they finally part ways.

“For us it feels like a happy ending,” the group concluded on social media. “We love each other and we love you! Thank you for everything.”

Further Reading

These Aussie Classics Just Officially Became ‘Sounds Of Australia’

Interpol Announce New Album + Share New Single ‘Toni’

Superorganism Tap Stephen Malkmus For New Single, ‘Into The Sun’

Must Read