Live Photos and Review: Groove Armada - TSB Arena, Wellington

The UK electronic music duo of Andy Cato and Tom Findlay, better known as Groove Armada, have been delivering dance floor fillers for over quarter of century. They, quite understandably, have decided to call it a day to concentrate on other projects. In Cato’s (he’s the tall one) case, regenerative farming. So, I find myself on a drizzly Sunday night in Wellington at the TSB Arena with a close to capacity crowd as part of their 25 Years farewell tour. They’ve released a boxset, GA25, remixing versions of their body of work with some juicy collaborators to accompany said tour.

Groove Armada opened with ‘The Girls Say’, starting as they mean to continue. The energy levels within the arena were palpable. Tune after tune keep coming. They played with a full band including three vocalists who are all in fine form and the laser light show was just icing on the cake. Particular highlights included the eminently danceable 'Fogma', the brilliant disco influenced ‘Song 4 Muta’, and 'Paper Romance'. I’ve never seen so many arses shaking when “I See You Baby’ filled the venue. Everyone and I mean everyone, bar staff and security included, were dancing.

When they dropped 'Superstylin' I couldn’t help but reminisce to the times I could be found dancing underneath railway arches in a none too salubrious area of London where it was a staple on the decks. Despite the passage of time the tune has lost none of its power to see people explode into a frenzy of dance when they “come in wit de swing”. Thousands of bodies went apeshit. MC M.A.D. aka Mike Daniel's vocal delivery ensured that it is as vital and relevant as ever.

‘At the River’ allowed everyone to catch their breath. Apart from my personal favourite come down ‘Oh Happy Day’ by The Edwin Hawkins Singers, I can’t think of many better tunes to greet the morning after pulling an all-nighter. It is ubiquitous on chill out complications for good reason. A reprise of 'Superstylin' ended an absolute belter of a night.

I was lucky enough to catch Groove Armada in London with the late great Richie Havens back in 2003. That was a fantastic gig which I always believed would be difficult to top. However, I think they may very well have managed it tonight. It's bittersweet evening as we are unlikely to see them again. — Scott Weaver

Check out a selection of Bruce Mackay's photos from Groove Armada's Sunday event by clicking on the thumbnail pics below...