‘Lights Under Goodison’ – A tribute to Everton’s spiritual home from the band Gustaffson

With every home game Everton play we are another day closer to bidding farewell to Goodison Park for the very last time. The upcoming Merseyside Derby on December 7th will be the very last one to be played at the Grand Old Lady, and to commemorate that the band Gustaffson are today releasing a brand new track ‘Lights Under Goodison’ to pay homage to our iconic home of Goodison.

Gustaffson is led by actor Andrew Gower, who you should know through his work on shows like ‘Black Mirror’, ‘Outlander’, ‘Carnival Row’ and ‘Midsomer Murders’ among others. Born a Blue, Andrew’s love for the club shows in every aspect of the new song, from the lyrics to the video that the band made to accompany the song.

Without further ado, we present to you ‘Lights Under Goodison’!

Ahead of today’s release, we had a cracking chat with Andrew about his Evertonian roots, how the song came about, Gustaffson’s music and of course, his acting career.

RBM – It’s always very exciting for us to meet famous Blues! Tell us about how you became an Evertonian. How about Graham, same story for him?

AG – I grew up in a family of blues. My two great uncles Frankie & Peter where season ticket holders for most of their lives, following Everton up & down the country. But it was my older brother Dave who passed the iconic ‘95 Danka jersey onto me. From that moment I was hooked.

With Graham it was his dad “who took him down to the Winslow pub” and told him all the stories of Europe. He reminds him of that on a daily basis (especially of late) that he’s yet to experience the same glory.

Are the other members of Gustaffson footy fans? How do they take to you and Graham chatting Everton, especially when we win?!

Our guitarist Webbo is a Red. Dave our bassist is from Old Trafford (Manchester) and of course a United fan. Liam our pianist has become an adopted Evertonian.

With our recent form there’s been plenty of sympathy for myself & Graham in the rehearsal room. Even from Webbo. We are grateful as a northern band (full of reds & blues) that they’ve allowed us to tell this story.

You are of course very well-known for your acting career, rubbing shoulders with some of the most famous names in the business – what has that been like?

It’s been an amazing 15 years in the acting industry and I’ve been lucky to tell stories on screen with some of the best ‘at the game’, directors, writers and of course fellow actors.

I think its also helped with our music. Our upcoming debut album is called ‘Black & White Movie’ and it features the likes of Bear McCreary (Outlander Composer) & Sir Ben Kingsley. All produced by Craig Potter (Elbow) who I met on a film set.

Are there any other famous Evertonians you’ve met, and any stories you’d like to share?

There’s been a few. The one that’s stuck around and has now become a dear friend of mine is Sam Hoare. He’s an incredible actor & screenwriter. We’ve now been in two TV series together: Outlander & Carnival Row. However we’ve never been lucky enough to share a screen YET.

He’s currently written & developing a Dixie Dean film which is very exciting for Evertonians.

PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Evertonians of a certain generation remember only too well Sylvester Stallone hoisting an Everton scarf at Goodison Park – have you ever met him and talked to him about that experience?

Sadly I have never met Stallone – but what a wonderful image & memory that was. IF I ever do, I’ll be sure to bring it up.

Do you find your acting and music lives intersecting often? Does one get in the way of the other?

So far the acting & music have complimented each other. As I mentioned before its inspired all our collaborations and even the album name. It’s an ambition of mine with the band to eventually be writing music for TV & Film. We hope this album inspires filmmakers – like all good music does.

Tell us about your new Channel 5 show Ellis that just dropped, what has that experience been like?

‘Ellis’ is a Three part drama with myself and the incredible Sharon D Clarke as the leads. It’s a new original British detective show set in the Peak District. Each episode is its own two hour film with a different director attached. It was a treat to have a go at reinventing the detective narrative with Sharon as a duo. The response from audiences has been fantastic and there seems to be a demand for Season Two – which is always great!

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Assuming you spend quite a bit of time across the pond in the US – have you caught an Everton game with one of the supporters’ clubs abroad?

I haven’t done this yet – but it sounds like a great plan next time the band are out on tour. If any supporters clubs abroad read this, please give Gustaffson a shout. Myself and Graham will be there in a heart beat.

We are so thrilled you shared the new song “Lights Under Goodison” with us, and we love it! Tell us about how you thought of doing the song, and the writing process.

I had written a poem called our ‘Spiritual Home’ about our Everton on a train journey up to watch the blues. It was centred around how Goodison Park gives me full escapism from the outside world: just like the best theatre, film or music. Good or bad for 90 minutes my head and heart is all Everton.

After we finished recording the album and when we knew we were heading into our last season at the Old Lady, I called Graham saying “we have to turn this poem into a song. Goodison needs her own track.”

Three weeks later we were in Coastal Sound Recording Studios with the incredible Tom Roach (Kings of Leon, Sam Fender mixing engineer). It was after that we sent the track to Everton and the response has been amazing.

We are thrilled to be releasing the track with the club on the 29th November 2024, a week before the last ever Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park.

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

The music video is incredible, and shows the Grand Old Lady at some of her finest hours. What is your one enduring memory of our spiritual home over the years?

There’s soo many nights under the lights at Goodison. The two memories that spring to mind for me is the Palace game and the beautiful sunset over St Lukes Church – after the third goal. The second is that dogged 1-0 win at Goodison Park under the lights against Newcastle: a 97th minute winner from Alex Iwobi, the riddler on the pitch, Allan’s sending off. It was just packed of all the drama Everton fans have come to expect over the years.

Graham I know would choose some of the Moyes years/wins in Europe. His favourite live goal of all time was Leon Osman’s scorcher against Larissa in front of the Gwladys Street.

Open question – feel free to tell our Evertonian readers anything you’d like to say to them!

Evertonians as a fanbase when we unite behind the team or any cause there is genuinely nothing like it in the world. We know we all have individual and such personal stories of Goodison … but Gustaffson have written this song for you all. We didn’t want to go into our new incredible home without giving our iconic Goodison its own farewell song and story. With the season end fast approaching and our constant worry of survival (again) … hopefully this track will give us all a moment to look back at our own memories of a world class & beautiful stadium.

COYB Andrew, Graham & Gustaffson!

‘Lights Under Goodison’ by Gustaffson is OUT NOW. The band’s new track pays homage to Everton’s last season at our iconic home of Goodison Park.

Official music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay9MC74i8UA

Listen & download: https://lnk.to/LightsUnderGoodison…

Visit gustaffson.co.uk for more information