For their first ever live UK gig of 2008, Groove Armada have decided to go somewhere a bit more, well, intimate...
For their first ever live UK gig of 2008, Groove Armada have decided to go somewhere a bit more, well, intimate. Whilst used to rocking huge stadiums, festivals and parties, there’s a very rare occasion indeed to savour as they perform a one-off live show at Plug in Sheffield on Wednesday 16th April.
For global stars such as GA, it’s initially easy to wonder – Why play Plug? – but the fact that the guys have personally requested to perform there reflects the scope of ambition that the venue has. “We’ve always wanted the venue to be used for great live shows and this will rank up there with the very best of them,” Scott Bailey, one of Plug’s Directors, explains. “For me that’s what we’ve always been about and we are so excited that Andy and Tom are bringing their live show to Sheffield. After Tom played here a few months ago with his Sugar Daddy outfit I think he was impressed enough to remember and suggest bringing everyone here.”
Because not only are they playing live but also Groove Armada are also rehearsing on Tuesday 15th April before jetting off on an American and Asian tour. They have been working on a secret new sound and Wed April 16th could be the only chance to hear them indoors in the UK for the whole year - and certainly the only chance in an intimate and throbbing music environment like Plug.
So for those few who don’t know, who are GA?! Groove Armada’s Tom Findlay and Andy Cato started pulling together ideas in poky little studios ten years ago. Since then, their careers have blown up. They’ve brought the stars out of the skies, the koalas out of the eucalyptus trees and the ladies out in their sundresses playing NYE at Bondi Beach, Sydney, to over 20,000 people, along with headlining Brixton Academy, Rock Ness and Fuji Rock to name but a very few. The duo’s combined love of so much different music inspires them to dish out house basslines, 80’s pop samples and stonking anthemic choruses with equal aplomb. Put that on a stage and you’ve got dance music’s most enlightened musical firework show.
Their songs (“bass, beats, vocal, up and down 5 or 6 cul-de-sacs, back to where you started, bingo!” says Andy) belong to all the clubbers, gig-goers, Top 40-watchers, festival fans – particularly London’s Lovebox Weekender regulars – and the two million people who have ever bought one of their many artist albums or compilations. By making tunes that soundtrack the party warm up, the party proper and the day-after-the-night-before, they’re the ideal companions for a night on the tiles from its beginning to its bitter end. Naturally, being so popular means that their tunes translate best on stage, in front of enthused crowds.
So that’s what gives this gig extra resonance as Plug’s live room is limited to some 1200 total. That’s it – and Groove Armada playing live. “We really can’t wait,” says Scott. “It’s great for the city, great for Plug and just incredibly exciting that they are coming to us to play. You’ll find me somewhere near the front!”
SJM Presents: Groove Armada
Wednesday 16th April
@ Plug, 14-16 Matilda Street, Sheffield
Groove Armada are playing fully live for an exclusive show before they travel to America for a 5 week tour. They are rehearsing at Plug in preparation for their State side visit and this is an incredibly rare opportunity to see them performing in a small live environment on Wed 16th April.
Groove Armada - LIVE
+ Support TBC
7pm
£20 advance
14+
www.the-plug.com 0114 276 2676
