Planet Notion - Groove Armada

"If everybody looked the same, we'd get tired of looking at each other." These lyrics could be applied to anything, which is exactly why their producers, Groove Armada, decided enough was enough when it came to festivals mirroring every other event on the party calendar. It was time to throw a spanner in the mundane works, get lost in a hissing laboratory and come up with an offering slightly left of the field. Notion caught up with the tallest man in music, and one half of Groove Armada, Andy Cato, to see just what's been going on and why we should all be sporting our wellies on his turf...

And so Lovebox was born - the perfect excuse for the Armada chaps to put on their own slightly elaborated house party, a party that would allow them to pick their ultimate soundtrack and invite all their mates. The only difference being that their lounge would be a rather large park in East London, and there would be a few thousand gatecrashers to deal with.

1997 was an eventful year. Tony Blair was elected Prime Minister, Princess Diana was tragically killed in Paris, Hong Kong reverted to China after 156 years as a British colony, and two blokes called Andy Cato and Tom Findlay set up the club night Captain Sensual at the Helm of the Groove Armada - a night which was to pave the way for a long and successful voyage for the pair and put Groove Armada on the map. And what a journey it’s been.

Andy Cato's musical career began the minute he took his first breath of Yorkshire air. From a young age, he knew he had to make the most of his larger than average lung capacity and so set out to conquer the trombone, playing in a Yorkshire colliery brass band and winning the coveted title of Young Jazz Musician of the Year in 1996. Taking his jazz roots with him, Andy’s cousin "Digs" introduced him to house music, and so the sounds and ideas for Groove Armada slowly started to form. It wasn’t until Cato’s girlfriend introduced him to Tom Findlay that the missing piece of the puzzle was found, and Groove Armada were on their way to world domination. It’s Andy’s blowing techniques that have played a huge part in the success story of Groove Armada, for it is the combination of electronic sounds, mixed with the warm and human instrumentation that makes them stand out from their darker, more genetically modified sounding peers.

When 'Vertigo' was released, it was hard to find anyone that wasn’t humming along with the sunshine-filled lyrics: "If you're fond of sand dunes and salty air...quaint little villages just here and there." The success of 'Vertigo' wasn't going to end there, as the party anthem 'If Everybody Looked The Same' and the Renault car ad soundtrack - 'I See You Baby' stormed the charts, and Groove Armada were the talk of the music industry. Many more hits followed such as 'Superstylin' from the album 'Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub)', to the massive success of 'Lovebox'. Groove Armada had not only made their mark in the UK but they were now worldwide celebrities.

Their success was noted by many including Madonna who requested they remix 'Music', and Elton John who enlisted them to be his opening band on tour. And if they can please the likes of the world’s greatest drama queens, it’s guaranteed that you'll be in for a good time if G.A are on the line-up. Groove Armada sum up everything that we look for in a festival act - They create THE perfect atmosphere and their music is a must-have in getting any party started, so it's a dead cert that you can expect good things when they are not only headlining, but headlining their baby. And boy has the baby grown. Lovebox ain’t sporting no huggies pull-ups anymore, oh no, it has ripened and grown into a fully fledged pubescent teenager, equipped with more love juice than anyone could possibly handle.

From its embryonic stages in May 2002 as Groove Armada’s London club residency - a chance for Andy Cato and Tom Findlay to host their own underground and more street level parties - taking in and selling out nights at venues such as The End, 93 Feet East, Neighbourhood and Canvas, to its now legendary annual Thames summer boat party on the good ship Silver Sturgeon, Lovebox has come a long way. The first Lovebox festival, Lovebox on a Summer's Day, was held at the slightly smaller location of Clapham Common in 2003, but saw 10,000 ravers snap up tickets within two days. And in 2004, buoyed by the previous year's success, the festival was repeated with similar results.

After two years at Clapham Common, the decision was made to re-locate to Peggy Mitchell's turf, the vastly superior site Victoria Park in the ol' East end of Londinium. This meant the festival could be staged over a weekend, and an extra 15,000 revellers could get stuck in to leafier surroundings. The re-branded "Lovebox Weekender" was a huge sell-out success, selling all 35,000 tickets.

And so to 2006, which sees Lovebox with more love to give than ever before. Unlike previous years, there will be more arenas, 10 to be precise, including Mr Scruff’s Keep It Unreal Arena, Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Arena, 55DSL Block Party Arena featuring Roots Manuva and DJ Cash Money, Secretsundaze, Faith featuring Terry Farley, Strongbow Cider House, Lost Vagueness, Medium Rare Variety Club, Hackney Empire Spice Arena, Tower Hamlets Tent, sporting DJs and acts such as Cut Copy, The Feeling, The Bees, Bugz In The Attic (Live), Layo & Bushwacka, Joey Negro, DJ Marky & Patife and Andy Cato's very own Pack Up & Dance.

The piece de resistance will be the main stage, headlined by festival hosts Groove Armada on Saturday 22nd July, who will take to the stage with an exclusive first UK performance of their new material and all new live show, and on Sunday 23rd July, the "cat in the hat", Mr Funkatron himself, Jamiroquai, will perform his only UK festival performance of 2006.

As if that wasn't enough to get your juices flowing, there will also be cabaret performances, circus acts, cocktails, gourmet food and a traditional fun fair, melding the rural beauty of a Glastonbury style event with the food and drink, facilities and convenience a London setting can offer. For those that can hack it, this year will also see Lovebox back in the clubs and warehouses of London, once the dust settles on the green and the nights start to get longer.

The festival circuit is rammed to the rafters, why should we make room for Lovebox?
"It's in the centre of town, it's got the best looking tents, the best looking people, and a line-up which is box fresh."

How has Lovebox changed since its debut?
"It has moved from an outdoor Groove Armada gig with additions, to a fully paid up festival in the centre of London."

What prompted you to set up your own festival?
"If you want something done properly, then do it yourself."

You are originally from Yorkshire, why hold Lovebox in London and not the Dales?
"Cutbacks in rural bus services."

Apart from Ozzy Osbourne, I believe you are the only artist to put on your own festival. Do you personally choose the line-up?
"As the Lovebox team, or "team lovebox" as the Americans say, we sort it out between us."

Who would be on your dream line-up?
"Last year we had Richie Havens. One day it would be good to get Orbital out of retirement to finish off the Lovebox Sunday. Mr Scruff is with us this year, as is DJ Marky and Patif, the best festival drum and bass."

Groove Armada are headlining on the Saturday, what can we expect from the Lovebox daddies?
"Loud music, flashing lights, new songs (the new album is going to be premiered) and old favourites."

The one thing we all dread at any festival is the state of the toilets, and the fact that it may rain equalling lots of mud. What steps are you making to ensure our visit to Lovebox is as pain free and as clean as possible?