Groovin' on a sunny afternoon

Shane Young and Debbie Lombardi were among the crowd of thousands at the Groove. Pictures / Dean Purcell

Some dressed for the occasion, others undressed under the sweltering Auckland sun at the annual Groove in the Park yesterday.

More than 20,000 people turned up to the Domain to hear groups such as Salmonella Dub and Nice'n' Urlich.

Dominic Booth, Toby Hyman and Sam Hooker brought trays of beer and a couch transported from their West Auckland flat on the four-wheel-drive.

The concert falls on the birthday of reggae legend Bob Marley and a few rasta followers were dotted among the crowd.

"We're celebrating that here. We've got the [rasta] flag flying from the flat roof at home," Mr Booth said.

Nehe and Ned Reuben have been following the summer music festivals round the country. "Of course we're reggae fans - were from Ruatoria," said Nehe.

Hugging his partner and claiming "one love", Shane Young said he saw Bob Marley play at Western Springs in 1979.

At the back of the crowd, young Oscar Morrison crawled round on a blanket.

Last year his parents were at Auckland Hospital listening to tunes from the concert as his mother Susan gave birth.