Live@Lunch with The Groove

The Groove is a new fusion of old sounds emerging from the Illawarra / Shoalhaven. An amorphous shifting blend of Spanish / classical acoustic guitar vibes with driving afro percussive rhythms.

The Groove are Sako Dermenjian and Damion Stirling who met jamming in the streets of Wollongong at the Honk Festival in 2016. There was an immediate spark and synergy of musical cultures.

Sako, a brilliant guitarist, is a Syrian refugee who arrived in Wollongong just over three years ago. His grandmother gave him his first guitar at the age of seven and his passion and enthusiasm have lead him to now studying at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney.

Talented percussionist, Damion, grew up on the beaches of Woonona and found a passion for West African drumming and dance which he has been studying, teaching and performing for close to 20 years fusing traditional West African rhythms with blues, funk, rock, folk and all genres in between.