Groove Farm are an indie based English band formed in 1986 as part of the C-86 movement, originally comprised of singer/guitarist Andrew Jarrett, guitarist Jon Kent, bassist Rupert Taylor, and drummer Jez Butler. Founding their own label, Raving Pop Blast!, Groove Farm released a handful of 7"s and 12" EPs as well as the full-length Plug (The Story of Pop So Far) between 1987 and 1990. Also signed with the Subway Organisation label, the quartet released the Alvin Is King! LP along with a variety of vinyl releases, but creative differences and financial strains led them back on the D.I.Y. track. The band have also reformed on numerous occasions.
Links To Peel
Gaining fans like Clare Wadd (who would later co-found Sarah Records) and JP, the Groove Farm were covered extensively in the British fanzine press in the 80's, with their song "Baby Blue Marine" issued as a flexi-disc for Kvatch. Following the breakup of the band, Jarrett formed Beatnik Filmstars, where Peel continued being fan of his work. A reformed version of the group finally cracked the Festive Fifty in 2018.
Festive Fifty Entries
- Post-Peel
- 2018 Festive Fifty: Back Of My Mind #31
Shows Played
John Peel's Groove Farm - I Don't Blame You
- 1987
- 02 February 1987: It Always Rains On Sunday (7" - Sore Heads And Happy Hearts EP) Raving Pop Blast!
- 16 February 1987: It Always Rains On Sunday (7" - Sore Heads And Happy Hearts EP) Raving Pop Blast!
- 11 March 1987: Heaven Is Blue (7" - Sore Heads And Happy Hearts EP) Raving Pop Blast!
- 27 May 1987: 'Baby Blue Marine (flexi)' (Kvatch magazine)
- 01 December 1987: Surfin' Into Your Heart (12" - Going Bananas With...) Subway Organization
- 15 December 1987: What Better Way To Be? (12" EP - Going Bananas With The Groove Farm) Subway
- 1988
- 26 January 1988: Surfin' Into Your Heart (7") Subway Organization
- 07 June 1988: Nancy Sinatra (LP - The Big Black Plastic Explosion) Subway Organization
- 14 June 1988: Nancy Sinatra (12" - The Big Black Plastic Explosion) Subway Organization
- 16 July 1988 (BFBS): Nancy Sinatra (12" - The Big Black Plastic Explosion) Subway Organization
- 1989
- 26 September 1989: Please Don't Make Me Unhappy (LP - Plug (The Story Of Pop So Far)) Raving Pop Blast!
- 11 October 1989: I Don't Blame You (album - Plug (The Story Of Pop So Far)) Raving Pop Blast!
- 14 October 1989 (BFBS) / Peel 120 (BFBS): 'I Don't Blame You (LP-Plug (The Story Of Pop So Far))' (Raving Pop Blast!)
- 27 November 1989: I Don't Blame You (album - Plug (The Story Of Pop So Far)) Raving Pop Blast!
- 1990
- 23 May 1990: Stop (12" - Present) Raving Pop Blast!
- 20 June 1990: Basil (12" EP - Present) Raving Pop Blast!
- 20 July 1990 (BFBS) / Peel 151 (BFBS): 'Stop (12"-Present)' (Raving Pop Blast!)
