Get back into the Groove in the Park

By FEDERICO MONSALVE

Last year's Groove in the Park turned out to be the event that wouldn't go away. If it wasn't the recurring wow, it was the rumour about it being some sort of vendetta between the promoters of Groove and the ones for Vibes on a Summer Day, which took place on the same day.

"That was just conspiracy-theory material," says Greg Stoffels from Metro Entertainment, which is responsible for Groove in the Park. "Events like these take about a year to prepare. It's not just something you wake up and say, 'Oh, those guys are doing an event, let's do ours'!"

Groove 2003 was planned for 6000, maybe 10,000 people. After all, it was a first-time gig.

Vibes on a Summer Day at Western Springs had confirmed around 30 international acts, and, "Well, the event wasn't about making money and it was only advertised in a niche radio station", says George FM's Peter Urlich.

Attendance was said to have boomed to 25,000, which rests somewhere between the number of people going to the Auckland International Cultural Festival and some of the largest outdoor picnics put together by the Auckland City Council.

"We were very pleasantly shocked," says Urlich.

For this year's event, the Herald spoke to Jon Sa Trincha.

"Life is as rough for you as ever, Mr Sa Trincha."

"Why thank you, I like it that way."

"Been outdoors lately? Get any sun on you?"

"Somewhere in Perth recently, and the East Coast of Australia playing on the beach for 1500-2000 people. Now off to Auckland before it gets cold," says Sa Trincha.

The Ibiza-based DJ has the arduous task of sitting by the Mediterranean, spinning his favourite tunes for what are likely to be the sexiest tourists in the world.

He creates a soundtrack that will accompany club patrons from pool, to the beach, back for a fruit daiquiri, and out again.

He keeps his influences world-savvy, stylish and sensuous.

"I like to use instruments that you would expect to hear in a house track. The material I am producing in Switzerland now has classical folk tunes, and some of their national instruments like the cuckoo clock," says Sa Trincha in a husky British accent. "I'm also using a lot of Flamenco and Brazilian beats."

With Trincha, Groove in the Park will have AK Samba (30 musicians exploring the beats of Sao Paulo's streets), Nathan Haines, and Nice'n' Urlich.

"It's a family event through and through. We like to cater for anyone from children to funky nanas. The mood playing outdoors is always wholesome and there is something about this music that entices that sort of vibe," says Urlich.

"That, combined with a lot of sun, a large park, made it one of our most memorable gigs last year."

And if last year was anything to go by, Groove in the Park is the event that can singlehandedly lift the mood of an entire city.

Performance

* What: Groove in the Park

* With: AK Samba, John McGough, Nathan Haines, Nice 'n' Ulrich, Jon Sa Trincha,

* When and where: Today, Auckland Domain

* Cost: Free

* Programme: 12.50pm-1pm - George FM presents: Welcome Waitangi Day 2004

1pm-1.15pm - AK Samba 30 member Latin-percussion orchestra performing the street sounds of Sao Paulo alongside Capoeira (fighting arts) troupe

1.15pm-2pm - John McGough (Attic Monkey recordings / Cafe del Mar / Smokin Beats & Shaboom) and Steve Bongo Blackburn

2pm-3.15pm - Nathan Haines with full band including British vocalists Vanessa Freeman, Marcus Begg and Shelly Nelson (from his album Squire for Hire)

3.15pm-5.15pm - John Sa Trincha Ibiza-based DJ

5.15pm-7pm Nice'n'Urlich - Bevan Keys and Peter Urlich