GoGo Penguin

GoGo Penguin are an English band from Manchester, consisting of pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka, and drummer Jon Scott. They formed in 2012, and as of 2025, they have released seven studio albums, two EPs, and three live albums.

GoGo Penguin
GoGo Penguin logo
Background information
Origin	Manchester, England
Genres	Jazz electronica nu-jazz ambient experimental minimalist
Years active	2012 (2012)–present
Labels	Blue Note (France) Gondwana (UK)
Members	Chris Illingworth Nick Blacka Jon Scott
Past members	Rob Turner Grant Russell[1]
Website	gogopenguin.co.uk

GoGo Penguin performing at Porgy & Bess in Vienna in November 2018

GoGo Penguin performing at Jazz Alley in Seattle in June 2024

History

GoGo Penguin formed in Manchester, England, in 2012.^{[citation needed]} They released their debut album, Fanfares, the same year, to positive reviews.^[2] Their follow-up, v2.0, came out in 2014.^[3] In September 2014, it was shortlisted for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize as Album of the Year.^[4]

In 2015, GoGo Penguin signed to Blue Note Records.^[5] Their third album, Man Made Object, was published in 2016. They followed it in 2018 with A Humdrum Star.^[6] Their next record, which was self-titled, came out in 2020.^[7]

On 6 December 2021, the band announced the departure of their original drummer, Rob Turner,^{[citation needed]} who was replaced by Jon Scott. Also in 2021, they released the album GGP/RMX and followed it with Everything Is Going to Be OK in 2023.

Musical style

The band's music features breakbeats, minimalist piano melodies,^[8] powerful basslines, electronica-inspired drums,^[9] and anthemic riffs.^[10][11] Their music also incorporates elements of trip-hop, jazz, rock, and classical.^[10][12]

Critics have compared GoGo Penguin to Esbjörn Svensson Trio, Aphex Twin, Squarepusher,^[13] Massive Attack, and Brian Eno,^[14] as well as modern classical composers Shostakovich and Debussy^[4] or contemporary minimal music composers like Philip Glass.^[15]

Band members

Current

• Chris Illingworth – piano
• Nick Blacka – double bass
• Jon Scott – drums

Past

• Rob Turner – drums
• Grant Russell – double bass

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album[16]	Label
2012	Fanfares	Gondwana Records
2014	v2.0
2016	Man Made Object	Blue Note Records
2018	A Humdrum Star
2020	GoGo Penguin
2021	GGP/RMX
2023	Everything Is Going to Be OK	XXIM Records
2025	Necessary Fictions

EPs

Year	Album	Label
2019	Ocean in a Drop (Music for Film)	Blue Note Records
2022	Between Two Waves	XXIM Records

Live albums

Year	Album	Label
2016	Live at Abbey Road
2020	Live from Studio 2
2024	From the North: Live in Manchester	XXIM Records