Short form bio: 

Good Time Locomotive (GTL) are a London-based alt pop/rock band blending shimmering synths, funky bass, driving drums and heartfelt vocals to create emotion-packed music about identity, hope and resilience.

Influenced by The 1975 and Don Broco, GTL fuse the spirit of the 80s/90s with a modern edge, connecting across generations both live and on record.

Working with Grammy-winning producer Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse), they’ve refined their sound without losing their DIY roots. With new music monthly, strong social media engagement and high-energy shows, GTL are fast becoming a rising force in the UK and beyond.

VARIATION

Good Time Locomotive (GTL) are a London based alt pop/rock band whose mission is to craft emotion laden music to transcend to. 

Blend shimmering synths, driving drums, funky bass lines, scorching guitars and heartfelt vocals; GTL uses the power of music to tell stories about identity, hope, and resilience. 

Inspired by modern day bands like The 1975 and Don Broco, GTL take the spirit of the 80’s/90’s and bring it up to date in their own unique style, connecting with listeners both young and old, on record as well as live. 

Working with Grammy-winning producer Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse), GTL have polished their sound, whilst maintaining that DIY spirit. 

With new music coming out every month, great engagement on socials and high energy live shows, they’re quickly making a name for themselves both at home and abroad.

Long form bio:

In times of increasing uncertainty, the ability to overcome adversity is needed now, more than ever! 

At no time in living memory did this seem more apparent than under the cloud of the pandemic in 2020/21, in which Good Time Locomotive (GTL) was born. 

The journey really started many moons ago way back in December 2003! 

That year, a 15 year old problem-child named George Taylor (GTL’s former guitarist) turned up to a local gig for a drum n’ bass metal band called Shellshock.

Little did he know that eight years later, a chance one-off gig between him and the drummer he saw that night, James Phillips, would sow the seeds of what was to become GTL a decade later.

Fast-forward to 2020, and this collaboration between these two music obsessed friends had spawned 12 new wave pop rock emotion laden tracks. 

And so it was that, during the deepest, darkest days of the first COVID-19 lock-down, George and James set out to find their ‘once in a lifetime’ singer. After surprisingly little effort, they found him in the form of the fantastic Hugo Leite. They went on to write 12 songs on zoom without having ever actually met in person! 

As soon as the lockdown was lifted, it was time to actually meet and get into James’s floating canal boat studio to record the songs. 

Several member changes later, the band released their debut single Lines of symmetry on May 13th 2023, before Hugo and James continued on as a two-piece to release multiple singles in the year to come, followed by a well received debut EP. 

The dynamic duo then brought in an old friend of James, Paul Morris (Moggy) on guitar, swiftly followed by Ellyes Baghouli on Keys and last, but not least, Ben Arrowsmith on bass to return to a 5-piece line up.

The band are currently getting a healthy amount of streams a month on Spotify and gaining decent traction on other platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

GTL’s influences are eclectic (to say the least!) but central is a love of music from the new wave era of pop such as Duran Duran and New order, as well as other greats of that time such as Dire Straits, Micheal Jackson and George Micheal. Throw in some of the heavier side of rock and hip hop like Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park and add a healthy splash of indie like Tame Impala and Oasis for good measure and that just about covers the broad spectrum that is GTL. 

Above all GTL have always strived to write music and lyrics that pack an emotional punch and positive message to help people overcome the darker times in life and get back to having a good time!

With a second self-titled EP released early 2025 and several singles followed by EP 3 being mixed by Grammy award winning engineer Adrian Bushby (Muse, Foo Fighters) for Autumn 2025, it looks like good times lie ahead on board the locomotive! 

Follow us on socials and check out all things GTL by going to our linktree: https://linktr.ee/goodtimelocomotive

For more information or to see how you can be a part of our journey, please get in touch via email: info@goodtimelocomotive.co.uk

or call James on: +447733135186

Press Quotes: 

“Good Time Locomotive blend shimmering synths, bold pop hooks, and emotional honesty into a sound that feels both euphoric and deeply human.”

— Earmilk 

“A riotous, floor-filling anthem blending alt-rock energy with disco grooves.”
— Rolling Hype 

“A bright, uplifting call for independence packed with lush pop euphoria.”
— Mesmerized 

“A funk-driven, feel-good stomper with nostalgic synths and pounding rhythms.”

— PressParty