It takes most bands years to headline their own tour, let alone reach international fame.
But a little-known Macclesfield band has achieved just that, returning from a tour of Brazil where they performed packed out gigs in seven cities including Rio and Sau Paulo.
Indie rock band Florin, who say they still struggle to get a gig in Macclesfield, struck upon the international fan base after a Brazilian blogger reviewed their music.
Word spread across the South American country and the boys found themselves with enough interest to organise a tour.
The foursome, which includes Hayden Gouveia, 20, Rob Jones, Douglas Ross and Jack Coggin, all 19, embarked on the experience of a lifetime playing to hundreds of people.
Now back in Macclesfield the band are playing slightly less exotic venues including The Swan With Two Necks on Chestergate this Friday (Oct 23).
And it’s not the only transatlantic success the band have found as New York based indie record label Intransit has released a compilation album which includes their track Static.
Jack, 19, said: “I supposed you could say we’ve done things in the wrong order. Mad tours of South America are supposed to come after you’ve conquered your home towns and the city. It was pretty bizarre meeting people thousands of miles away who knew every word to your songs, when you’ve struggled to get gigs in your home town. But it was a great experience and one we’ll never forget.”
Hayden, Rob and Douglas met at Fallibroome Academy and in 2012, lead guitarist Hayden met vocalist Jack while studying music technology at Manchester College.
After agonising over a name the foursome settled on Florin, a currency from the Middle Ages. Their recordings - including some done at Fallibroome’s studios - were uploaded onto Soundcloud in 2014 where they were discovered by a music fan in Brazil.
Jack said: “He wrote a favourable review in Portugese but luckily Hayden’s dad is from Portugal and helped us respond. Then we started getting all these messages from Brazilian fans and other bands. We decided to go over on holiday in May and June to meet a few fans and take our instruments and it built from there.”
Florin’s plan is to record an EP or album after Christmas and tour the UK and Brazil next year.
