Here is the interview from BBC Three Counties Radio from Saturday 31st January 2026
Here is a transcript of the interview
JUSTIN
It’s 14 minutes to 11 on this Saturday morning. I’m Justin with you on BBC Three Counties Radio and BBC Radio Northampton.
Now, The Zoots are one of the best cover bands around. Take a listen to this…
Brilliant.
Their Sounds of the Sixties show is coming to the region next month—The Spotlight in Hoddesdon on 21st February. Joining me now is Jamie Goddard from The Zoots. Morning, Jamie.
JAMIE
Hello! How are you doing?
JUSTIN
Very well. You sound very happy—that’s a good start! Your band has been around since 2009. Roughly how many gigs have you done?
JAMIE
I usually say fewer, but I think it’s around 2,000.
JUSTIN
2,000! And how many countries?
JAMIE
About 35.
JUSTIN
Wow. Right, I’m going straight in with one of the strangest questions you’ll ever be asked—apparently your music is on the national curriculum in China?
JAMIE
Yes, that’s true!
JUSTIN
What on earth is going on there?
JAMIE
I wrote songs for an English singer, Declan Galbraith, who was very popular in China. The songs I wrote for him were used to help teach Chinese children English. That’s genuinely what happened.
JUSTIN
So there could be people in China who can speak English because of your songwriting?
JAMIE
Yes!
JUSTIN
That’s an amazing claim to fame.
JAMIE
Unfortunately, it’s in a country without strong copyright laws, so I don’t earn any money from it!
JUSTIN
If I were you, I’d fly to China and walk down the street saying, “Hi, I’m Jamie Goddard—you might speak English because of me!” There’s a TV documentary in that.
Now, back to The Zoots. It’s quite an unusual name, and I’m told it was actually a misunderstanding?
JAMIE
Yes. My dad was my manager at the time. He was speaking to an agent about creating a sixties tribute show, and he said, “They can wear suits.” The agent thought that was the name—“Suits.” Somehow it became “Zoots,” and it stuck. We hadn’t even decided on a name at that point!
JUSTIN
To be fair, The Zoots sounds much better than The Suits.
JAMIE
Definitely! But that’s how it happened—and we’ve been The Zoots since 2009.
JUSTIN
You mentioned your dad. How far back does your love of music go?
JAMIE
My dad brought me up listening to The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Who and The Kinks. My parents were married in 1969, so they had lots of late-sixties records. My dad was also a drummer. In fact, he was replaced in his band by Ringo Starr’s son, Zak Starkey, when he stopped playing after I was born. So music was always around me.
Later, he helped me form The Zoots and book our early shows. He’s been a huge influence—he basically gave up music for me.
JUSTIN
We played a clip of California Dreamin’ earlier. Without giving too much away, name three songs that will definitely be in the set.
JAMIE
We perform over 60 songs in the show—people will have to come along to see how we fit them in! But you’ll hear The Beatles, The Stones, The Kinks, Small Faces, The Searchers, The Who, The Monkees—we do quite a few medleys too. It’s all the favourite sixties hits that are still relevant today.
JUSTIN
If you’re doing that many songs, there must have been a moment when your mind’s gone blank mid-lyric?
JAMIE
It happens! But as an experienced performer, you spot someone in the audience who clearly knows the words and make eye contact. I do it without even thinking—it doesn’t matter how small the gig is. There’s always someone who can help you out!
JUSTIN
So if Jamie is staring at you in the crowd, he’s not falling in love—he’s reading your lips!
JAMIE
Exactly! Or you can just hand the microphone to the audience. Luckily, the songs are so well known that most people know the words anyway. Sixties music is still everywhere—TV adverts, radio adverts—and it’s popular across all ages. My 14-year-old niece knows most of the songs, and my four-year-old nephew’s favourite track is Barbara Ann by The Beach Boys. His second favourite is Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles.
JUSTIN
My five-year-old son is obsessed with The Beatles. For his birthday, he didn’t want Alton Towers or Euro Disney—he wanted to visit the Abbey Road zebra crossing. Five years old!
It just shows how massive they still are in British culture.
You’ve had an incredible ride with The Zoots and performed all over the world. Where’s the craziest gig you’ve ever played?
JAMIE
We love playing The Spotlight—we haven’t been there in six years. I especially enjoy Belgium and the Netherlands, as they don’t always get many British acts.
One unforgettable place was Cuba. It felt like stepping back into the fifties and sixties because of all the classic American cars—they haven’t been able to import newer ones. It was like performing at the biggest vintage car show you’ve ever seen. That was amazing.
JUSTIN
Which fits perfectly with your show! Jamie, it’s been great talking to you. Best of luck with the tour, and I’m sure we’ll speak again soon. Have a great weekend.
JAMIE
Thank you very much.
JUSTIN
That’s Jamie Goddard from The Zoots. Their Sounds of the Sixties show comes to The Spotlight in Hoddesdon on 21st February. If you love great music, that’s the show for you.
