Founder of Australian blues and roots band The Audreys, Tristan Goodall, has died at 48. Vale Tristan Goodall.
Tristan Goodall, the founding member and guitarist of the Australian blues and roots group The Audreys, has passed away, at age 48.
The news of the well-loved musicians passing was shared via the band’s Facebook by Taasha Coasts, The Audreys singer and co-founder. She shared that Tristan had passed away over the weekend.
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“I have talked to so many people in the last few days who knew Tristan, and the outpouring of love has been overwhelming,” Coates shared today on social media.
“He touched so many of us with his beautiful music, his big heart, his big hugs and his big goofy laugh.
“Tristan and I met in 1997 in Adelaide. We were university students, with silly dreams about touring the world with a band. Tristan already played in a rock band, which was so cool to this skinny jazz singer with a breathy voice and crippling stage fright. But Tristan saw something in me, and as we started playing and writing songs together a whole new world opened up.
“We went on to do so many wonderful things together with our music. We met and worked with amazing and talented people, we walked onto stages big and small together all over the world. It has been the most incredible adventure.
“25 years later I have to say goodbye to my dearest friend, my musical soulmate, and my grief is almost unbearable. Rest in peace my darling Tristan. We had a dream and we made it happen, can you believe that?
“Thank you so much for sharing that journey with me. I will miss you everyday.”
According to reports, the celebrated musician passed away peacefully surrounded by family.
Hailing from South Australia, The Audreys, made up of Taasha Coates and Tristan Goodall, quickly blew Australia away following their formation in 2004, pulling in a haul of three ARIAs and releasing four records, including their 2006 debut album Between Last Night And Us (Best Blues and Roots Album at the ARIA Awards) and their fourth and last album Till My Tears Roll Away [2014], which was hailed a triumphant evolution and cemented their reputation as charming blues-folk-rock favourites. They also won the same ARIA (Best Blues and Roots Album) in 2008 for its follow up, When the Flood Comes, and then again for 2010’s Sometimes the Stars.
Referring to Goodall as her “best friend” in previous interviews, The Audreys journey has been nothing short of phenomenal over the years, having graced almost every major festival in Australia and played more gigs than they can count with their brand of fuzzy guitars, plucky banjos, sweet ukuleles and quirky melodies. They’ve rocked festivals and clubs in Europe and North America, sold songs to films and TV shows far and wide, written music for theatre, won awards, hit the charts and, of course, gone gold.
In late 2021, The Audreys announced that Goodall had stepped down from the group due to ill health and would be permanently retiring from playing and touring, although it was announced he would still be writing. He gave Coates his blessing to form a new line-up of the band.
“It’s time now for me to let go and say farewell,” he said at the time. “I know The Audreys will be safe in Taasha’s hands and ready for what comes next.
“And I know that if you’re reading this then you came to a show, bought a record, or at least heard a song.
“That means this music, the biggest part of me, is also the tiniest part of you. Cool, yeah?”
Having touring regularly through regional Victoria over the years and being act featured in our pages, it has been an honour to witness Tristan Goodall share his magic with our region.
Rest in peace Tristan Goodall.
