Gig Review: Fabio & Grooverider at Rock City

Well, that’s exactly what genre pioneers Fabio & Grooverider started doing in 2022, joining forces with the Outlook Orchestra to create a special live mix which told the story of the jungle and drum and bass genre from the nineties to the present day. In 2023, they did it again, and then took the show on tour. Last weekend, they made it to Nottingham’s Rock City. 

I spoke to Fabio for LeftLion in December, when he promised that the show would offer a great night for everyone, whether a “DnB head” or not. So I was expecting something impressive, although, to be honest, I was also a little unsure about how it would all work. Drum and bass is an electronic music form; it’s based around rapid beats and deep throbbing bass, often with synths and soaring vocals. An orchestra is a very different kind of beast: a large group of people with their human limits, playing ‘analogue’ wind and string instruments. 

But, without a doubt, it works. In fact, adding in that natural, human element of live musicianship elevates the music to newfound heights. It adds depth, richness and a touch of unpredictability. 

I walked into the venue just as the show began, and was greeted by throbbing bass, breakneck live beats, and a party atmosphere. People were already smiling, their faces showing a mix of surprise and joy. The crowd was a real mixed bunch, ranging from original nineties ravers to current Uni students. After the event ended, a fellow gig-goer put it perfectly as he remarked that Fabio & Grooverider have managed to resurrect the feel of early rave culture, the togetherness and simple hedonism. Until I actually saw the stage, I could hardly believe this was all happening live.

A huge part of this was the utterly skilled musicianship on display from the orchestra on stage, which featured two percussionists and a mix of traditional and electronic instrumentation (including strings, brass, two keyboards, an electric guitar, and a bass). They were led by the award-winning and very cool Tommy Evans, whose conducting style bordered on dance moves at times. Meanwhile Fabio and Grooverider MCed, welcoming guest vocalists on stage to lead from the front.

The show was structured chronologically, with the MCs introducing each era, which covered a few years at a time. Few others could have come up with this: Fabio and Grooverider are able to draw on an encyclopaedic knowledge of a genre they helped create and shape. 

I lost count of the songs pretty quickly - there was just so much show to take in, but there were some definite standouts. 

The seminal Alex Reece track Pulp Fiction went full throttle, the rich bassline becoming chest-throbbing (all credit to that heroic bass player). This transitioned nicely into an incredible rendition of Sweet Love, with its classic jungle beat, hitting heavy on the first beat of each bar. Kele le Roc’s vocals were smooth and strong over that pulsing undercurrent.

Soon after this, we heard Ready Or Not, another classic of drum and bass; the record famously sampled Lauren Hill, but here the vocal duties were handled superbly by Jenna G. DJ Hype’s Peace, Love & Unity was also joyous, coming at the end of the 1990s section of the show. 

Then we were into the year 2000; and as we pushed further into the new Millenium, the music turned darker, brassier and a bit dirty, with tracks from artists like Dilinja coming to the fore. Some of the best moments were still to come, though. Reaching 2006, we were treated to a brilliant version of DJ Zinc and The Ganja Kru’s Super Sharp Shooter, originally from the mid-nineties, but here reworked to spell out FABIO GROOVERIDER …

It all became a bit of a blur after this, with the orchestra pushing out a series of high-paced, forceful tunes, and most of the crowd fully into the spirit. There were even lighters out at one point. Towards the end of the show came a moment I’d been particularly looking forward to - an exclusive appearance from UK Apache to perform the anthemic Original Nuttah. This track is thirty years old now, but it sounded as brilliantly fresh, unique and out-there as ever. It was incredible to hear the song performed by one of the original stars of the scene.

It would take several pages to describe this gig in full detail and really do it justice - it was incredibly dense, generous and almost overwhelming, both aurally and visually, thanks to some fantastic lighting work. We were promised something unforgettable, and that’s just what Fabio & Grooverider - along with scores of fellow artists - delivered. This is a very special kind of show, and a highly recommended one, whatever your knowledge and experience of this form of music.

Fabio & Grooverider performed at Rock City on 20 January 2024