Last weekend Breaksof10 was at none other than the Warehouse Project in Manchester for the final date of the Groove Armada Black Light tour. This date has been on the Breaks calendar since the WHP line up release earlier this year. Dubbed as the greatest night of the 2008 programme I was eagerly anticipating some new material blended with some classic favourites. So I was tackling two firsts last Sunday; my first Groove show and also my first Warehouse visit.
From your first contact with the Warehouse you know your dealing with some seriously switched on people. They have been throwing amazing parties here for some time now and it’s safe to say they are pretty good at it. Firstly, the venue is amazing – almost like it was created for one purpose; to lay host to the most celebrated musicians and the UK’s finest music events. From the visually stunning projections to the Funktion-one sound system your eyes are drawn in a million directions picking up original aspects and inspiring details. It’s almost like a race car, stripped of all its luxuries and comforts to enhance its performance. There is no plush seating, imported Italian wallpaper, or gold finished taps. Likewise with the bar – Red Stripe, a handful of spirits, Red Bull, and Tiger bottled beer is about it. Essentially it’s all about the music and we were there for the Groove.
Tom and Andy didn’t need to formulate a set that would fit the Warehouse format. Instead Groove hit the studio with Andy describing the results as a “return to that raw, live sound. Inspired by the warehouse vibe, this had to be one of the first places we played it. “Smoke & Lazers.” The new material was infectious with that unmistakable Armada beat and Groove. New material was also accompanied by some massive party bombs from the back catalogue. Old favourites such as Super Stylin received a massive reception from the crowd as MAD enhanced the hype. Special acclaim is to be given to the endearing new addition to the Groove family; Saint Saviour in her technicoloured one piece commanded the crowd from centre stage with her powerful vocals and stunning persona. It was truly one of those gigs that you simply did not want to end.
Now I could post a polished, edited video from the gig… however nothing catches the atmosphere better than someone in the crowd in amongst the madness. This was the very start of Groove Armada at the Warehouse Project – 18th October 2009.
Related Links:
Stream music from the Groove Website http://www.groovearmada.com/
Visit the Warehouse Project online for all line up information http://www.thewarehouseproject.com/
