Ruth Silversides - Lead Vocals Richard Owen - Bass, MD Nicky Ortega - Drums Lloyd Wright - Guitar, BVs Dan Allan - Sax, Keys, Perc, BVs Mike Cocker - Trombone, Perc, BVs
Album Guests Brooke Macarthur - Vocals MC Drop Dead Fred - Rhymes Paul 'Winks' Wheaton - Guitar Scott Sweeney - Guitar John Wheeler - Sax Dave Wilde - Flute, Sax Jamie Toms - Sax Alex Leathard - Trombone Kieran Parnaby - Trombone Neil Doherty - Trumpet Andy Bickerdike - Trumpet Tom Rushton - Trumpet Brendan Murphy - Percussion Matty Ross - Percussion Jonathan Marriott - Percussion
Respect to the extended family - all the people who have played and recorded with Groovenik over the past few years, you know who you are!
Influences
The JB’s, The Meters, Fela Kuti, Tower Of Power, The Average White Band, Parliament/Funkadelic, Prince, Headhunters, early Brand New Heavies, Quantic Soul Orchestra, 4Hero, Ltj Bukem, Moving Shadow, 90's Hiphop ...............this list could go on forever!
Sounds Like
A bit like all the influences listed above...................... Mostly though, we sound like Groovenik!
Groovenik - The New Northern Funk Sound. By mixing influences from across the whole history of funky music, along with whatever other styles they come across, the band aims to create a unique sound which moves both the body and the mind.
The ‘northern funk’ sound is a carefully blended musical cocktail which is heavily groove based but also has a strong focus on song writing.
The band is equally at home laying down ballsy, brassy funk tunes as it is playing innovative dance tracks fusing funk and jazz with anything from drum & bass to Latin or afrobeat grooves.
Groovenik highlights so far: Nov 2009 – Supported Alice Russell at O2 Academy. Aug 2009 – Shambala Festival. Jul 2009 – Limetree Festival. Jul 2008 – Marlborough Jazz Festival. Jun 2007 – Supported Antibalas at the Sage Gateshead. May 2007 – Supported New Mastersounds in Newcastle. May 2007 – Headined North East Funk & Soul Revue at the Sage Gateshead. Feb 2007 – Supported Bonobo at Newcastle University. Dec 2006 – Supported Quantic Soul Orchestra at the Sage Gateshead. Oct 2006 – Supported Bonobo at Independent in Sunderland. Sep 2006 – Played on main stage at Minichill festival in Marlow. Aug 2006 – Played at Edinburgh fringe. Jun 2006 – Headlined Newcastle Green Festival. Apr 2006 – 13 date spring tour of the UK. Nov 2005 – Supported Gwen McCrae at the Sage Gateshead. Aug 2005 – Won competition for PRS stage, Edinburgh fringe Sunday. July 2005 – Headlined Newcastle Tall Ships festival. Apr 2005 – Sold out launch gig at the Sage Gateshead for Cancer Research.
Groovenik is run by Richard Owen, who also started Funk Network UK www.fnuk.com which is a worldwide network of funky bands and musicians.
Bah!I was supposed to be playing Shambala, but it clashed with Beachdown, would have been good to catch up! I might try and make it up for the Album launch in Oct though!
Marlborough was the nuts, a rocking crowd, for a lunchtime gig!!
Hi! We just posted the first track from the new album "Bittersweet" on our page. The album won't be released in the U.S. until next month, but we thought a sneak peak was in order...Thanks for listening! ~ Mark + Kate
Hy! Theres something going on for the FUNK BREAKER‘s… Today ist he Pre RELEASE of this 2 new BOMBS exclusive on junodownload.com! PBR002 PulpFusion – Fonkyy Monkyy EP With Remixes by: Nick Fonkynson, Zamali, Omegaman, Jim Dunloop, Funcle, Jayl Funk, Johnny Pluse and Dr. Funkenstein And PBR003 Johnny Pluse – Up All Night Remixed by: PulpFusion Go here to take a listen and buy: http://www.junodownload.com/labels/Pig+Balls/releases/ Many Thanks, and may the groove be with you! ;-))
Yo Groovenikers It's the launch party for our brand new CD at The Head of Steam in Newcastle on Tuesday April 14th. Amazing night planned, it'd be great to see you all there. N
oh to be from Newcastle, class stuff!!!!
Cheers for being our new mates
hope you dig the trax
All the best from good old geordie land
JT
Smoove & Turrell
We are on our way for another UK tour to celebrate our new single - The Power!
We would love to see you at one of our shows, so come and say hello...
Liverpool, Magnet - Feb 26 Sheffield, Tuesday Club presents… - Feb 27 Nottingham, The Maze! - Feb 28 Leeds, Hifi Club - Mar 1 Cambridge, Soul Tree - Mar 3 Bristol, Start The Bus - Mar 4 Manchester, Mint Lounge - Mar 5 London, Madame Jo Jo's - Mar 6 Birmingham, Hare & Hounds -Mar 7 Wales, Detonate 10th Birthday Weekender! - Mar 8
Just thought we'd let you know about a gig we're doing which might (sniff) be our last. For a number of reasons we're calling it a day after October, at least for a while.
So Saturday the 18th of October is going to be pretty special.
We've got the big Live Room at Plug in Sheffield for the night, and pressganged almost everybody who has ever played with us over the years to join us for an Uber-Gig of Justice.
We're playing from 8 till 10:30 with a bit of a break in the middle. Then we've got the Earth Bar for more dancing and a nice chilled out after-party till 3.
It's £6 in advance from Plug Box Office on rockingham Gate (tel 0114 2413040), Jack's Records on Division Street and online at http://www. the-plug. com/tickets. And this one’s open to anyone over 14 too!
We're going to blast through into a better, oranger dimension. Please join us.
Tuesday 21st October - Not long to go now. It is a real treat to have the three of these bands playing together. Tickets are available in RPM as well as online at www. wegottickets. com
£6 in advance, £6.50 on the door. 8pm start; The Cumberland Arms, Byker (just near the Cluny) - www. thecumberlandarms. co. uk
thank you for the Friendship! ;-)) we hope you like our breakzzzzzz! ;-) if you do, watch out for the forthcoming releases... Like this one! Coming out at 28. February... will be downloadable at junodownload, itunes, etc...
At junodownload you will find also 2 exclusive mixes (from Umbo & Balatz and second mix from Matty Blades!)
hey groovenik.... really lookin forward to your trip to the yardbird next week... we will give you a very warm welcome.... can't promise much on the dj front tho....pair of amateurs on the decks down there! lol... see you soon....