The Zoots band in Maidenhead

On 14th February 2025, The Zoots returned to within a mile of where they first formed in Littlewick Green back in 2009. The event had sold out in only a few weeks of going on sale after a seven year gap between the last time they performed there.

It was a very special day for singer and frontman Jamie Goddard who grew up and went to school in Maidenhead.

Back in 2009 Jamie was performing with Jamie and the first class who had a residency at Hammersmith Palais and a minor chart hit with a song called Mobile Phone. At the time that band were still performing over 100 shows a year but reaching their 10th year was maybe time for something a bit different. was approached by a booking agent who had an idea for a 1960s themed band.

In changing the direction slightly The Zoots or ‘ Zoots’ as they were known at the time went on to travel over 35 countries within the first few years of forming. Jamie recently discovered the name ‘Zoots’ came from a misheard conversation between Jamies manager (his Dad) and the booking agent who offered their first tour. Jamie’s Dad was talking about the band wearing tailored ‘suits’ and that might be a good name aswell. The agent thought he’d said ‘Zoots’ and the rest is history! 2000 shows later and The Zoots were playing a venue they could have walked to when they first started/

The concert at Norden Farm was attended by mainly Jamie’s friends family and extended family including Pete Manning who took the most of the video footage above. Pete was Jamie’s roadie in one his first professional bands between 1997 -1999, a band formed in Maidenhead called Cobweb Strange. The band was even playing 60s music back then with a mixture of The Who, Stones and their own material. They performed over 300 shows over a period of 3 years.  Jamie became the bands booking agent and was able to learn the trade of selling an act to a venue. ‘If you can sell a band that you can’t spell or pronounce you learn alot” Jamie said

Lead singer and frontman Jamie attended Desborough School where he performed his first gig in his brothers band back in 1991. Some of the people in the audience also atteneded Jamie’s first ever performance which was a staggering 34 and a half years ago! Also in attendance was alot of Jamie’s family ; Mum Dad, two Aunties, many old school friends and at least ten people who had booked Jamie to sing at their private parties.

It was the first proper Sounds of the 60s show since October and the band had added about 35 minutes of new material! There was alot of nerves on stage, trying to remember all the new medleys and the 50 songs which have been painstakingly weaved together for the first time. There was a total of 69 songs played tin total.

There was such a wonderful atmosphere at Norden Farm which is run by a fantastic staff and some brilliant volunteers. It was within walking distance of The Zoots first headquarters in Littlewick Green. Having relocated to Wiltshire in 2012 it is still a very important place for the band. Jamie said ‘It feels like the first time since Covid in 2020 that things are slowly getting back to normal in terms of attendances and bookings. The band lost most of the team as a result of Covid and we were unable to work or get funding from the Arts Council. The Zoots had nearly 200 shows cancelled and / or rescheduled so it feels fantastic that our audience is finally back seeing us and the shows are getting booked back, some of which are five years after they were originally booked. The last five Sounds of the 60s shows have been sell outs as the next one at Plaza Theatre, Romsey on 28th February which was been sold out for months!

It is also an exciting time for Jamie and The Zoots  as they are launching a new production called The 1960s Talent show which is starting on 20th June 2025 at The Princess Theatre, Burnham on Sea. It is the first of many and in very different format to previous shows. The audience decides which 1960s band go through to the final to discover the winner in an all new exciting show. Next stop The Plaza in Romsey, which has also been sold out for months!