A fiddle-playing sailor, a circus aerialist and a 6’7” Barrowsider in lipstick and a fur coat walk into a bar. No, that’s not the start of one of your uncle’s Christmas dinner jokes – it’s an eyewitness report of the havoc wreaked by Grooveline in The Grand Social yesterday evening.

The rambunctious funk collective brought the house down, with a show that was invigorating, colourful and rewardingly ambitious.

Where to begin?

Walking into the Grand Social's terrace was a literal baptism of fire - with pyrotechnic artists and a live DJ. Behind them was a screen displaying a countdown clock. Students raced around, spurting each other with fluorescent paint and handing out UV bracelets.

The main stage area was strictly off limits right until the timer ran out, when patrons rushed into the glowing haze.

Grooveline Experience at The Grand Social. 5th of December 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Getting the show going with an intense jam, it’s evident that Grooveline ooze funky goodness. They’ve got the precision of Vulfpeck, the coolness of Parliament, and the energy of James Brown.

We’re treated to a few renditions of classics, an infectious cover of Modjo’s ‘Lady’ and a slick reimagining of the late Mac Miller’s ‘What’s The Use?’ They’ve also got a handy repertoire of their own stuff, mainly in the form of extended, high-octane jams like the appropriately titled ‘Let It Rip’.

Each member is a musical Swiss army knife. There’s a shirtless hype-man covered in blotches of neon, who spits bars and riles up the crowd. He’s also the lead guitarist and can just as easily shred a ‘Maggot Brain’ style distorted solo with expert execution.

The sailor cap-clad keyboardist doubles as a fiddle player, providing some Euro 2008 nostalgia with a driving, folky version of ‘Samba de Janeiro’.

Perhaps most impressive of all is the saxophonist and lead singer, Bainsy, who’s playing was other worldly - imitating his bandmates riffs at will and meandering off with his own virtuosic improvisations.

Exceptional as individuals, they’re more importantly a watertight unit, playing for each other with the taste and chemistry of a grizzled jazz outfit. While Grooveline appear light-hearted and fun, it’s clear that they take their craft incredibly seriously – no doubt having spent hours in the rehearsal room perfecting their act.

Grooveline Experience at The Grand Social. 5th of December 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

There was a communal feel to proceedings as the band’s special guests added some exotic flair to the mesmerising spectacle. Backup singers emerged from the buzzing crowd here and there, offering up soulful vocals and dance routines.

Queer cabaret extraordinaire Tadhg joined in on the act too. Quickly losing the fur coat (it was getting very hot in there), they clambered onto the stage. Swathed in red and appearing ten feet tall, they charmed the audience with their bellowing vocals and charisma.

Finally, it was time for members of veteran folk group Kíla to have a go. They brought their bodhráns and flutes, turning it into a raucous impromptu trad sesh. One of the highlights of the evening was when Rossa Ó Snodaigh (father of Tarach, the lead guitarist) ditched his instrument and started finger whistling – his hands became musical devices as he engaged in a call and response battle with the lead guitar player.

Grooveline Experience at The Grand Social. 5th of December 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Things weren’t quite finished just yet, and were about to get even more out of pocket with a unique take on the encore.

The Grooveline members urged their adoring onlookers to ebb backwards, allowing space for a dangling hoop to emerge. They had promised circus beforehand, and now they had delivered, as an aerialist melded and moved around the ring with grace while the musicians provided an ambient backing track.

Crowd well and truly stunned, Grooveline finished the evening with a medley of legendary tunes, featuring Chic’s ‘Le freak’ and Bruno Mars’ ‘Uptown Funk’.

The whole thing was enthralling. The band believed in their project and got the crowd to back it too. For what is essentially a group of students, the production was immense. ‘The Grooveline Experience’ is a testament to what can be achieved with proper collaboration, effort, and burning enteprise.

Grooveline Experience at The Grand Social. 5th of December 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.