Review: Groove Festival

Photo: Groove

Last weekend saw a new addition to the festival calendar - Groove Festival, a one day dance music event held on the beautiful shores of Loch Ness. The site is a very familiar one as it previously played host to Rockness before its cancellation in 2014. 

Coming from the north of Scotland ourselves, there's definitely been something missing since the passing of Rockness and Groove promised to be the ideal replacement. 

Previous to the event, Groove’s message in the build-up was “One night, one stage, one helluva party”. Okay, there was another smaller stage there too but you get the picture. 

The line-up for Groove was made up of club nights and DJs from around Scotland and also established acts such as 2ManyDJs and festival namesakes Groove Armada.

Upon entering the site, there was a laid back feel about it, a lot of early attendees but everyone happy to sit down and chill during the opening acts which included Inverness club nights Fugazy & Filth, Edinburgh’s Hector's House and also Aberdeen’s Let It Bleed. Plenty of heads were nodding though, which is always a good sign.

Harri & Domenic, residents of the legendary Sub Club in Glasgow provided the incoming revellers with a classy house set of selections old and new. One thing they guarantee is a solid set and this was no different. Eli & Fur were next to play and continued the level of solid house music. By now the crowds were dancing in the hundreds with many more ticket holders arriving.

Radio 1 DJ B.Traits was next up to entertain the Loch Ness crowd with a set which had a bit more intensity to it. Darker house tracks, bass and breaks were provided and it seemed like B.Traits was really up for making her mark on this début event. This was evident in the masses who were by that time all up for a party. 

Tensnake picked up where B.Traits left off and got stuck in with some very melodic house tunes. Groove was now rocking. The skies were atmospheric and the festival visuals (which were brilliant) kicked into action. This was now a typically Scottish party and the place was bouncing by the time Tensnake finished off with Liquid – “Sweet Harmony” & New Order – “Blue Monday”.

2ManyDJs took to the stage, which was now illuminated by the hypnotising visuals. You know what you get with a 2ManyDJs set, and that isn’t a bad thing. Electronic anthems galore with the odd curveball (Supergrass – “Alright” being a perfect example) and serious underground tracks were all on the Soulwax menu for Groove. 

The stage was set for the headliners Groove Armada. Kicking off with a remix of their “Paper Romance” track, Andy Cato & Tom Findlay delivered a brilliant set from beginning to end.

Revellers were sent home happy although knowing the Loch Ness crowds of years gone past, they could have easily carried on for another few days! Fingers crossed that Groove returns next year and is a regular fixture on the festival calendar for many a year.

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Tickets are no longer available for this event