Beloved 2000s jazz-funk quintet Addison Groove Project will return to the stage for its first concerts since 2013. The long-dormant Boston band announced a pair of concerts in the Northeast set for spring 2025.
On March 29th, Addison Groove Project will perform at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA followed by a show at New York City’s Drom on April 5th. These will mark the band’s first performances since a string of reunion concerts in 2013. The current lineup consists of keyboardist Rob Marscher, guitarist Brendan McGinn, drummer Andrew Keith, and dual saxophonists Ben Groppe and Dave Adams. Founding bassist John Hall passed away in 2004 following an 18-month battle with cancer, after which the group continued as a quintet. Aaron Bellamy filled in on bass during many of the band’s 2012–2013 reunion shows.
“It’s been about a lifetime since Addison Groove Project last performed live,” the band wrote in a statement. “Brendan’s a doctor now, Andrew’s a therapist, Ben’s a chef, Dave’s a middle school band director, and Rob… well Rob still plays (Matisyahu, Star Kitchen) around software development gigs. Everyone’s got kids and instead of gathering together every weekend at another iconic New England rock club, the band busts chops and shares eyeopening music in the vaunted Loose Moose group chat. No one ever hated anyone else back when the band was touring, but we do that even less now. Out of the group chat, the desire to play together again after 12 years was formulated and here we are tryna’ sell you some tickets again.”
Tickets for both Addison Groove Project shows will go on sale Friday, November 22nd at 10 a.m. ET: Cambridge | New York City.
Formed in 1997 while the members were still in high school, Addison Groove Project recorded its self-titled debut (aka The Orange Album) as a senior project in 1998. Blending instrumental jazz-inspired compositions with infectious funk grooves and a penchant for live improvisation, ADG became a staple of the late-’90s/early-2000s jam band boom. The group followed its debut album with studio releases in 2002 (Allophone) and 2007 (Waiting Room) as well as a seminal live album Wicked Live (2000) and a sequel Wicked Live 2 (2007). The band soldiered on for a few more years following Hall’s death, ultimately putting the project on ice in 2007 and reuniting for a string of shows in 2012–2013.
Revisit Addison Groove Project’s heyday with this playlist of audio from the group’s set at the third-ever Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in 2004.
Addison Groove Project — Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival — Manchester, TN — 6/13/04 — Playlist
[Audio: charles lecuyer]