The Groove Academy Travels from Sydney, NSW

Teaming a veteran DJ with a talented collective of Sydney’s finest musicians and vocalists, The Groove Academy have been one of Australia’s most in-demand acts since forming in 2007. Whether performing as a DJ/MC duo or an exhilarating eight-piece band, they’re a regular feature at some of the country’s most exclusive gala dinners, awards nights, media events and private parties. Their credibility extends from the corporate world into clubland, where they held down an 11-month residency at Ivy, Sydney’s premier nightclub. And it now extends beyond Australia to Bali, with bookings at Karma Kandara’s Karma Beach Club, Seminyak’s famous Ku De Ta, Canggu’s Finns Beach Club & Singapore’s Mambo Beach Club underlining their international appeal.

The group is led by musical director, Scott Pullen, a DJ with over 20 years of experience both in Australia and overseas who was recently selected by global clubbing brand Hed Kandi, as a resident DJ for their Australian arm. “We cover all styles,” he says of their approach whether in duo or big band mode, “but we always focus on rocking the crowd in front of us.” The group’s crowd-rocking recipe is simple but effective as they deliver a seamless blend of dancefloor anthems and pop hits both past and present – some sounding like carbon replicas of the originals and others given a contemporary live re-work. His band features a roster of some of Australia’s most accomplished performers, fronted by a revolving cast of fine female vocalists including Red London (aka Reigan Derry) from X-Factor & Sharon Muscat (Sister 2 Sister / Delta Goodrem / Jessica Mauboy). Pullen holds down the groove with support from drummer Warren Jackson (Dream Delay/Deni Hines/Jenny Morris) with a super tight 3 piece horn section made up of Dane Laboyrie (trumpet), David Weir / Jimmy Garden (sax) & John Hibbard / Mike Raper / Ben Gurtin (trombone).

The Groove Academy regularly perform in seven or eight-piece mode at the Star Event Centre, where they’re a preferred supplier for large events, though they’re coveted across Sydney – and indeed, the rest of Australia. In recent times they’ve played alongside chart-topping pop star Jessica Mauboy, at Palazzo Versace, for New Year’s Eve 2013, at an exclusive party at Fairmont Resort, for internationally renowned French fashion house Chanel, and been flown to Melbourne to perform at the National Gallery of Victoria, for Mercedes-Benz. The Groove Academy’s honour roll reads like a Who’s Who of corporate Australia, with the Gentleman Jack Embassy Launch, Qantas Platinum Club Dinner , Paspaley Polo In The City, Seven Network Logies After Party, South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Red & Green Ball, Veuve Clicquot’s ‘Clicquot in the Snow’ & The Prime Minister’s Mid Winter Ball just some of the events where they’ve thrilled guests. The Groove Academy were recently selected as finalists in the ‘Best Achievement in Entertainment’ category at the Australian Event Awards.

The Groove Academy’s ability to tailor their line-up and sound to work any venue or demographic has seen them become a highly coveted act, with festivals, clubs and companies alike falling over each other to book them well in advance.