Groovin Essentials

  • Biography

    This international party band is made up of a collection of the highest quality professional session musicians and vocalists who specialise in performing choice party tracks from the wide ranging genres of Funk; Soul; Motown; Rock; Indie; Pop and Disco.

    Groovin Essentials has a wealth of experience performing at the very highest profile events at venues in London such as The Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair, The four Seasons in Canary Wharf and The Savoy on the Strand for clients such as Louis Vuitton, Rolex and BMW to name just a few. The versatility of the band means that they are not only ideal for corporate events but also for weddings and civil partnerships, university balls, birthday parties and barmitzfers, awards ceremonies and festivals. They have also proved to be very popular with the British Military and are engaged by the SAS, RAF, Army and Navy on their major events throughout the year.

    Groovin Essentials is led by Mathew Richardson Bmus (Hons) who is a former scholarship student of the Royal Academy of Music London. Away from Groovin Essentials Mathew along with the other members of the band enjoy a varied freelance career working at home and abroad with artists such as Sir Paul McCartney, Corrine Bailey Rae, Professor Green, Sam Smith and The Human League, in some of the countries finest concert venues as well as on television including appearances on Later with Jools Holland, on the radio and on a number of commercially available recordings. If you need a band that will have you dancing all night & leave you shouting for more, there can be only one choice…

    OPTION 1 – Groovin Essentials Party

    The party band produces a truly fantastic sound and is perfect as the main evening’s entertainment for any event. The band will perform for up to a total of two hours of live music, and its at the clients discretion whether the format is 2 x 45 minute sets, 2 x 60 minute sets or 3 x 40 minute sets.

    OPTION 2 – Groovin Essentials Jazz

    The versatility of the members of Groovin Essentials means that they are just as experienced performing Jazz Standards, as they are party tracks, and are able to offer the Groovin Essentials Jazz option. Dine in style whilst being entertained by the refined sounds of Groovin Essentials Jazz. The Trio or Quartet is able to cover a full range of cool Jazz Standards which will add sophistication to any event. Whether it’s a drinks reception or atmospheric music during dining, VIP Jazz are happy to meet your exact requirements in order to ensure that your event is a complete success and enjoyed by all.

    See: MPR Jazz Ensemble

    OPTION 3 – Groovin Essentials Jazz & Party Package

    In addition to Groovin Essentials Party for your main evening’s entertainment, why not take advantage of the Groovin Essentials Jazz package as well. Dine in style whilst being entertained by the refined sounds of Groovin Essentials Jazz. And then dance the night away whilst being entertained by Groovin Essentials Party. The Groovin Essentials Jazz & Party Package has been specifically created for those clients that wish to book a suite of entertainment but who do not want to have the inconvenience of dealing with an external band and who wish to take advantage of the discounted pricing that can be offered as a result.

    DJ OPTION

    As standard Groovin Essentials provide a laptop DJ service so that your guests are kept fully entertained when the band is not performing live. They have a huge amount of popular songs and they mix them as they would be by a traditional DJ. They will make basic announcements, and take requests from guests on the night. You can even let us know in advance if you have any favourite songs and they will make up a playlist specially for your event.

    DRESS CODE

    The band will always dress very smartly as standard unless a more casual look is required by the client. Please just let us know what you require for your event and they will be as flexible as possible to try and meet your requirements.

    PA OPTIONS

    As standard Groovin Essentials uses top of the range audio equipment which is installed and operated on each engagement by our very own team. Because the band is fully engineered this ensures the perfect sound mix for each and every event.

    The standard vocal rig is ideal for events up to 150 people or so in the average sized function rooms you find in hotels and venues up and down the country, allowing competitive prices and excellent value for money.

    For larger weddings and corporate / military events, they can provide a top of the range 4000 watt PA system with engineer which is suitable to perform to a room of anything up to 500 guests. Larger systems are available on request to cater for any size of event.

    After gaining entry to the performance area, it takes a total of 90 minutes to be fully set and ready to perform.

    WORKING WITH SOUND LIMITERS

    The band is regularly booked to play at events where the venue has some restrictions placed on the amount of volume which is allowed during the performance. Usually there is a decibel meter fitted in the room which is connected to the power supply that the band is asked to use. This is absolutely no problem for the band to work with.

    LIGHTING OPTIONS

    As standard Groovin Essentials uses the Acme cabaret colour pro light system. This produces 4000 watts of stage lighting via 8 x 500 watt bulbs. The system allows a flood of light of numerous colours or can be programmed to move with the rhythm of the band. The equipment is very compact and so can be used in almost any space.

    For larger events, the band can supply a popular range of intelligent and generic lighting from manufacturers such as Avolites, Martin Professional, Clay Paky, CCT, and Thomas and complementary special effects such as smoke and haze which can greatly improve the impact of the lighting. Set up time around 120 minutes.

    Previous Clients include:

    • Amgen
    • Bank of Ireland
    • Beresford’s Solicitors
    • BMW
    • Bolsover District Council
    • Bosch
    • Café Royal London
    • The Chambers of John Hand QC
    • Dell
    • Dior
    • The Dorchester London
    • Gonville & Gains College Cambridge
    • Hermes Paris
    • The Grosvenor House Hotel London
    • Halifax
    • I.B.M.
    • IKEA
    • Kings College
    • Cambridge
    • The Labour Party
    • The Law Society
    • Lincolnshire show ground Hunt Ball
    • Lloyd’s TSB
    • Louis Vuitton
    • Lowery Hotel Manchester
    • Mint Morgan Stanley
    • NAT WEST
    • Orange
    • Pernod Ricard France
    • Price Waterhouse Coopers
    • Charted Accountants
    • Q Hotels
    • Repton School
    • Rolex
    • The Royal Bank of Scotland
    • RSPCC
    • SIA (Spinal injuries association)
    • Silverstone Race Track
    • SONY
    • South Leicestershire College
    • Tesco
    • Virgin Atlantic
    • Wilberforce Chambers
  • Song list

    POP & ROCK

    • All Night Long – Lionel Richie
    • Alright Now – Free
    • Beat It – Michael Jackson
    • Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
    • Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
    • Brown Sugar – Rolling Stones
    • Cant take my eyes off of you – Franki Valli
    • Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
    • Going Underground – The Jam
    • Hey Jude – Lennon & McCartney
    • Honky Tonk Woman – Rolling Stones
    • I Wanna Dance With Somebody – Whitney Houston
    • Jail House Rock – Elvis
    • Long Train Running – The Dooby Brothers
    • Love Shack – B52′s
    • Moondance – Van Morrison
    • Nutbush City Limits – Tina Turner
    • Oh What A Night – Frankie Vallie
    • Relight My Fire – Take That & LULU
    • Saw Her Standing There –  The Beatles
    • Stuck In The Middle With – You Stealers Wheel
    • Sweet Home Alabama – Lynard Skynard
    • Town Called Malice – The Jam
    • Twist And Shout – The Beatles
    • You Cant Hurry Love – Diana Ross
    • Waterfall – Stone Roses

    DISCO & FUNK

    • Ain’t No Stopping Us Now – McFadden & Whitehead
    • Best Of My Love – Emotions
    • Blame it on The Boogie – Jackson Five
    • Car Wash – Rose Royce
    • Celebration – Kool In The Gang
    • Disco Inferno – The Tramps
    • Everybody Dance – Chic
    • Get Down On It – Kool & The Gang
    • Get Down Tonight – KC & The Sunshine Band
    • I will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
    • Im Coming Out – Diana Ross
    • Ladies Night – Kool & The Gang
    • Le Freak – Chic
    • Lost In Music – Sister Sledge
    • Move on Up – Curtis Mayfield
    • Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherries
    • Sex Machine – James Brown
    • Streetlife – Crusaders
    • That’s The Way I Like It – KC & The Sunshine Band
    • Upside Down – Diana Ross
    • We Are Family – Sister Sledge
    • Young Hearts Run Free – Candi Station

    SOUL & MOTOWN

    • Ain’t no Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrel
    • Chain of Fools – Aretha Franklin
    • Baby Love – Diana Ross
    • Dancing In The Street – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
    • Everybody Needs Somebody – Blues Brothers
    • Gimmie Some Lovin – Blues Brothers
    • Heard it Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
    • Hold On Im Coming – Blues Brothers
    • I Feel Good – James Brown
    • I Want You Back – Jackson 5
    • In The Midnight Hour – Commitments
    • Lady Marmalade – Pattie Belle
    • Mustang Sally – Commitments
    • No Where To Run – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
    • Reach Out ill Be There – 4 Tops
    • Rescue Me – Fontella Bass
    • Respect – Aretha Franklin
    • Shake A Tail Feather – Blues Brothers
    • Signed Sealed Delivered – Stevie Wonder
    • Soul Man – Blues Brothers
    • Superstition – Stevie Wonder
    • Sweet Home Chicago – Blues Brothers
    • Think – Aretha Franklin
    • Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher – Jackie Wilson

    INDIE & MODERN

    • American Boy – Estel
    • Angels – Robbie Williams
    • Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor – Arctic Monkeys
    • Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke
    • Clocks – Coldplay
    • Come As You Are – Beverley Knight
    • Crazy – Cee Lo Green
    • Crazy Chick – Charlotte Church
    • Domino – Jessie J
    • Feel The Love – Rudimental Ft John Newman
    • Feel So Close – Calvin Harris
    • Forget You – Cee Lo Green
    • Get Lucky – Daft Punk
    • Girls And Boys – Blur
    • Golden Touch – Razorlight
    • Happy – Pharrell Williams
    • Heaven – Emeli Sande
    • Hot Right Now – DJ Fresh
    • Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars
    • Locked Out Of Heaven – Bruno Mars
    • Love Me Again – John Newman
    • Make You Feel My Love – Adele
    • Mercy – Duffy
    • Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5
    • La La La – Naughty Boy
    • No Tomorrow – Orson
    • Rock Your Body  – Justin Timberlake
    • Ruby – Kaiser Chiefs
    • Somebody Told Me – The Killers
    • Somewhere Only We Know – Keane
    • Spinning Around – Kylie Minogue
    • Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand
    • This Love – Maroon 5
    • Too Close – Alex Clare
    • Treasure – Bruno Mars
    • Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson
    • Valerie – Amy Winehouse
    • Waiting All Night – Rudimental Ft Ella Eyre
    • You’ve Got The Love – Florence and the Machine
    • You Had Me – Joss Stone

    XMAS TRACKS

    • All I Want For Christmas – Mariah Carey
    • I wish it could be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard
    • Last Christmas – Wham
    • Rockin Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
    • Fairy Tale of New York – The Pogues
    • Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade

    DINNER JAZZ OPTIONS

    The Ensembles jazz option repertoire consists of well known ‘standards’ taken mainly from ‘The Great American Songbook’. Composers such as Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rogers & Hart and Irving Berlin.

    An example of song list is below:

    • A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
    • All blues
    • All of me
    • All the things you are
    • Angel eyes Autumn leaves Bewitched Beautiful love
    • Black Orpheus
    • Blue bossa
    • Body and soul
    • Bye bye blackbird
    • Can’t get started
    • Cheek to cheek
    • Come fly with me
    • Desifanado
    • Don’t get around much anymore
    • Don’t worry about me
    • Drop me off in Harlem
    • Everything happens to me
    • Embraceable you
    • Exactly like you
    • Fly me to the moon
    • Foggy day
    • Gee baby ain’t I good to you
    • Georgia on my mind Girl from impanima
    • Have you met Miss Jones
    • I got rhythm I love you
    • I remember you
    • In a sentimental mood It had to be you
    • I’ve never been in love before
    • Let there be love
    • Let’s fall in love
    • Like someone in love Lover Man Lullaby of Birdland
    • Misty Moondance My funny valentine
    • Night and day
    • On green dolphin street
    • One note samba
    • Our love is here to stay
    • So what
    • Softly as a morning sunrise
    • Someday my prince will come
    • Song for my farther
    • Stella by starlight
    • St. Thomas
    • Stormy Monday
    • Summertime
    • Takin’ a chance on love
    • Take the A train
    • Take 5
    • Unforgettable
    • What is this thing called love
    • What’s new
    • You made me love you You make me feel so young

    And many more….

  • Line up

    • 6 piece band: lead male vocals, lead female vocals, drums, bass, lead guitar, keyboard
    • 8 piece band: Add the horn section – Tenor Sax & Trumpet
    • 9 piece band: Add an additional female Vocalist.

    Please note smaller and larger bespoke line ups are available on request.

    • Jazz trio: Piano, Bass, Drums.
    • Jazz Quartet; Sax, Piano, Bass, Drums.