As one half of Groove Armada, Andy Cato is preparing to head around Australia headlining the Bacardi Express 2009 tour. The train trip continues the band’s long running association with the brand. They’ve played Bacardi shows in Miami, Greece, Mexico, and Brazil already, on a whirlwind world tour which has had plenty of highlights.
“Greece was a big one. It was the first time we synced our DJ set to the lights, visuals and lazers. The gig was in a velodrome where the UK had won some of its very rare sporting gold medals. We added another win to the list that night. And Mexico crowds are always top class. That was another first too – the only gig we’ve done in a blow up arena,” he said.
Groove Armada are no strangers to Australia, playing here “a dozen times at least.”
“We’ve been to Australia a dozen times at least. We’ve had amazing gigs there over the last ten years. Centennial Park was special, as was the first time we played the Hordern. New Years Eve on Bondi Beach was everything you’d expect. We’ve played killer festivals outside Melbourne and Perth, and had a top ten night in the (now demolished) venue where the Beatles played on the Gold Coast. We’ve seen more nights to remember in Australian bars, clubs and house parties than you could hope to manage in a lifetime.”
This time around the band hope to visit the Match Bar and Grill in Melbourne. ”A friend of ours has set it up to combine top food and drink with an enormous sound system out the back. Sounds like a one stop shop,” he enthused.
The Bacardi Express will depart Melbourne on March 26. It’ll make stops at Wagga Wagga and Wollongong before arriving in Sydney on March 28.
Image used with permission from Peer Group Media. Image credit: Derek Santini