With their polished performances and high standards, UEA Grooves is upending the University of East Anglia’s music scene and raising the bar for musicians on campus. One of the nine ensembles that the UEA Music Society provides, the band operates as the university’s official function band and specialises in jazz, funk, soul, and disco. However, UEA Grooves is not your typical student collective, with their providing a special fusion of musicianship at grade 8 and above standard, as well as a focus on the community outside of the university.  

Through this significant role in Norwich’s larger community as well as on campus, UEA Grooves are well-known for playing at private parties and society gatherings in and around Norwich and are celebrated for their upbeat performances. With a smaller band playing jazz standards and a larger 14-piece band for ‘discos and dancing’, they are able to cater to a wide variety of events. One of their year’s major highlights includes their annual performance at Voodoo Daddy’s, a well-known Norwich performance space. Through drawing an audience of Norwich locals and students, the band establishes links between campus life and the local community and enhances UEA’s cultural visibility within the city.  

In order to prepare for such events, band members first audition before dedicating time and energy to honing their repertoire during weekly Tuesday evening rehearsals in The Strode, where they practise from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Here students gain important experience working under a strict rehearsal schedule, much like they would in a professional music setting. 

Due to a spirit of cooperation, each member contributes to the sound of UEA Grooves, making every performance feel unique and personal. By providing a distinctive, elite experience that blends professional standards with a genuine love of music, UEA Grooves defines what a university music ensemble can be. In addition to enhancing the campus music scene, UEA Grooves strengthens the connection between UEA and the neighbourhood. For students, UEA Grooves offers a fantastic chance to participate in a unique musical experience that will help them advance their musical abilities while creating enduring relationships.  
  
Words from the Co-Leader of UEA Grooves, Hannah Rollins  

Can you tell us about the process behind UEA Grooves’ formation and how it stands out from the other ensembles within the Music Society?  

“UEA Grooves originally formed as an offshoot from the Music Society Big Band, it began as a space for more experienced players to enjoy playing together at a higher standard than our inclusive society ensembles. Initially playing Jazz, Grooves was called UEA Jazz Collective. Over the years Jazz Collective grew, and we expanded our repertoire to include pop, funk, soul and disco – your classic wedding disco bangers. In September 2024, when myself and Izzy Dhillon began leading, we rebranded to become UEA Grooves to reflect our wide repertoire. We still play improvised jazz standards in small band settings but have the capacity to fill a dance floor too!”   

How do you ensure that UEA Grooves maintains  professional level of performance while still fostering a fun and inclusive environment for all its members?  

“Operating as a professional band while maintaining a fun and inclusive environment is a fine balance to find! It’s something we’re constantly talking to our band members about and has been our main aim since we began band leading. For us, being a part of Grooves has two vital areas; that we enjoy playing with other incredibly talented musicians and develop individually as players; and build real-world skills like effective communication, time management and organisation so we can operate as a professional band. Finding a balance between this can be hard; our ethos is that ‘degree comes first’ We have a wide range of students in the band, learning from and understanding each other helps us maintain the balance between professional and fun! Ultimately, we all love making music! Playing together and having fun at gigs is a real highlight during the academic year, and that’s always the goal. Rehearsals are a switch off from our busy, and often stressful degrees.”   

What role do you see UEA Grooves playing in the broader UEA music scene, and how do you hope it will evolve in the coming years?  

Gigging is one of our favourite things to do. Some of our favourite gigs have been working with different university societies to perform at their end of term dinners and balls. This year we’ve expanded what we offer to two main sets. We provide a small jazz band that is perfect for dinners and  creating a warm atmosphere for events. Our whole band then join together for funk, soul, disco and pop hits which can fill a dancefloor.   

Two years running we’ve played our own gigs at Voodoo Daddy’s, one of our favourite live music venues in Norwich. This year we aim to increase the number of private gigs we do and branch out further into the Norwich music scene. There is nothing more exciting for us than filling a room with people who just want to have a good sing and dance. Looking to the future, we’ve been working with our players to ensure a smooth transition of those who graduate and move on from Grooves while welcoming new, talented players. We want to future proof our band by creating lasting relationships with local event organisers while also taking care with simple things like well-organised music catalogues.    

 If you’d like to book UEA Grooves for your event or society, please get in contact via email Ueagrooves@gmail.com or Instagram @ueagrooves

Photo Credit: UEA Grooves