Goodbye June stoked to return to Jasper for two shows
Goodbye June is returning to their roots to rock the Astra Theatre for two shows set for Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26.
The group, formed by cousins Tyler Baker, Brandon Qualkenbush and Landon Milbourn in Tyler’s Hillham home, played at the Astra for the first time last year. And with the success of that show and the connection to the area, they are looking forward to returning.
You can learn more about Goodbye June’s formation at this link.
“We had so much fun last year,” Tyler said. “We sold out really quickly last year (four hours), and so we’re like, ‘let’s make this a thing.'”
That ‘thing’ is adding another show Friday after the Saturday performance sold out soon after being announced. Tyler joked that Saturday’s sellout was because his wife is a Beckman and has a huge family, but the response encouraged the group to add an additional day and two more acts.
Along with Goodbye June, the Friday night will begin with a performance by guitarist Harry Keyworth. “He is one of our buddies from Wales, England,” Tyler said. “He’s just an incredibly talented guitar player with a very, very unique style of playing.”
After Keyworth, the crowd will get funky with Them Vibes.
“Them Vibes is an incredible funk rock band. Dude, I’m so excited to show Jasper Them Vibes; it’s gonna be really special,” Tyler said. “I think everybody is going to love them because they are so fun.”
Ticketholders on Saturday night will get to experience Voltage Hawk. “They are kind of a prog metal band,” Tyler said, adding the music will sound just like the band’s name. “They’re pretty intense. They’re really theatrical. I think everyone’s gonna really enjoy the musicianship.”
Goodbye June bassist Jake Thomas Jr. will open up with a solo 20- to 30-minute set Saturday night as well. He opened for the Astra show last year, and the audience really seemed to like him, Tyler said.
All these groups are friends with the members of Goodbye June, and that is meaningful to Tyler.
“I really want to be really intentional when we come back and play for Dubois County,” he explained. “We’re really trying to put together a really great night of music.”
Earlier this month, the group began a tour through the Midwest with the hard rock band Hinder. The two shows at the Astra cap off the month for them before they are set to perform in Louisville at Bourbon and Beyond on Friday, September 15.
The Killers — one of Tyler’s favorite bands — is headlining the evening lineup, which also includes Duran Duran and Hozier.
They are on tour this month after finishing up the recording of their most recent album. Tyler is reticent on the name of the band’s fourth album — the tracks are laid — but stoked to talk about the two upcoming shows at the Astra Theatre as well as the beauty of creating music they love.
The band played at the Castle Theatre in Bloomington, Illinois, on Sunday evening, opening for Hinder. “That night was incredible,” Tyler said. “There was a ton of people there, and they were singing along and dancing.”
“Dude, it is kind of mind-blowing to me that my music has made it to a random town in Illinois,” he added.
This has led to them being able to meet hundreds and hundreds of people with the commonality in the music they perform.
“That is a really cool part of the job to just meet people from all different walks of life, and they tell you what your music means to them,” Tyler said. “I think that is one of the most fulfilling parts of the gig.”
Tickets for Friday night are on sale now at www.AstraTheater.com. Reserved seating tickets on the main floor and balcony are $25 with a $45 VIP option. The limited VIP ticket includes preferred parking in the Matrix parking lot, a $5 concession voucher, an exclusive meet and greet/photo opportunity, early access to merchandise, and a pre-show acoustic set starting at 6:15 p.m. Doors open for all other ticket holders at 7:00 p.m.
You can follow Goodbye June on their website here.
