Every Memorial Day Weekend Perpetual Groove fans from across the country gather at Cherokee Farms in Lafayette, GA for the group’s annual festival – Amberland. Over the course of the three-day event, Perpetual Groove throws down six separate sets, front man Brock Butler plays a set dubbed “Brockfest” and PGroove side project Lazy B & the Recliners get a set of their own. There’s also a chili cookoff and a Cornhole Toss Off Tourney on Saturday afternoon plus free downloads for those with wi-fi.
As in the past, each of Amberland weekend’s three nights will feature a distinctive theme with the first night being a tribute to the band’s long out-of-print self-titled LP in which PGroove will perform the album in its entirety. Night two’s theme is ABC – or Anything But Clothes – where fans are encouraged to fashion outfits out of unconventional materials. For the final night, the group will host a Jersey Shore costume party that’s sure to be ridiculous. Tickets for Amberland are available now for $85.
We’ve teamed up with Perpetual Groove to offer our readers two pairs of passes to the event as part of our Everybody Wins When We Plug Something And In Return They Offer Us Free Shit To Give Away program. To enter, simply leave a comment below detailing your favorite PGroove moment. Whether it was a complete show, a single song or otherwise, give a brief description of your favorite PGroove moment. We’ll randomly pick two of the entries and the winners will each receive a pair of tickets to Amberland 2010.
Only one entry per person is allowed and the contest ends on May 13th. We’ll pick the winners at random and announce the winners on the 14th.
69 Responses
Already bought my tickets, but would love to bring 2 more friends along!!!
getting to see a fellow TIP board member from Germany experience his first live pgroove show at Jam In The Dam…knowing that he’d loved the band for so long, and finally got his moment. That was pretty sweet.
My favorite PG moment was my 3rd PG show – my first 2 were on Jamcruise 3 where I was fortunate to get to meet and know the band before I ever heard them play a note of music. My 3rd show was at the Outer Banks Brewing Station a month following Jamcruise and at the end of the first set they played “Graceland” and I remeber thinking – “Paul Simon only wishes he had played this song like that” and I was hooked.
The first time I tripped acid was at a PGroove show. So was the second time. It was pretty bitchin’. PGroove has definitely changed my life.
I recently attended my 94th Perpetaul groove show so it’s very difficult for me to pick a single favorite moment… because there are sooooo very, very many. But if I had to pick one… I would have to say it was my very first PGroove show at Lincoln Theatre on January 27, 2005. A really good friend of mine brought me to see them and during “It Starts Where it Ends” encore I fell in love. I gave him a big hug and thanked him over and over again for introducing me to my now favorite band. And since then it’s been history. You live, you love, you die!
pgroove<3 amberland<3
My favorite Pgroove moment was the Saturday after the Georgia Theatre burned down, and the show was rescheduled to the Athens Classic Center. It was a very sad show, but I had a lot of fun.
They played Money For Nothing by Dire Straits (which I had never heard them play before). I was sitting there just jammin’ out and I was like wow this sounds a lot like Money For Nothing……..OMG THIS IS MONEY FOR NOTHING AAHHHHH!!!!!
hahahahah. it was so left field, caught me totally off guard. Sweet Jesus I love this band.
Well, hope I win. But even if I don’t, I will DEFINITELY find a way to be at Amberland 🙂
My favortie P-groove moment was last years amberland at brok for breakfast.Not just one song, or one moment but the entirity of it. Waking up to that angelic voice is the best cure for the night before’s endeavors :). P groove is my favorite band of all time and i am completely obsessed and infatuated with them. My love just grows deeper every show. I would love more than anything to experience the groove at amberland ’10!!
My sister has been trying to get me to go with her to a show for years now and I just recently went to my first show. Seeing how happy it made her to share with me what she has loved for so long was my favorite my moment.
woo hoo thats cool that yall are hookin up a lucky fan with tickets
Atlantis at Langerado 2007 > Mr. T. Incredible. Actually, entire show was the heat.
My favorite Pgroove moment happened a few years back at the Culture Room in Ft Lauderdale. I had just met my future husband and brought him to his first Pgroove show. Seeing his huge smile and watching him boogie down that night remains priceless!
My favorite memory of PGroove has to be when I went to Amberland my first year… There were so many fine people there. We danced, talked, and played all day. I felt like I was in a dream world, and indeed I was in Amberland, another land for the dreamers. And we sat on that hilltop, flowers and tall grass surrounding us, and we stared at the blue sky with the sun in our eye, clouds floating by, the mountains in the distance, and the many tents set up; we lied there & listened to nature, to laughter, high spirits, and PGroove playing some good tunes… It was pure, it was beautiful. It’s not only one of my favorite memories of PGroove, but it’s one of my favorite memories, period. 🙂
I remember in 2006 at the Firelake festival P Groove played after sugar ray and there were tons of empty cups and trash on the ground. So me and my friends started picking up all the trash when P Groove played sundog. It was such a fun weekend and i hope to go out and see them many more times.
This is quite the tough choice. I was graced with a pgroove show in tally with some awesome friends from out of town. They actually suprised me by brining brock to my apartment just a few hours before the show. afer hangin gettibrock hooked up burnin and havin few beers we took him to the engine room where they tore the roof off. that was awesome, but still my favorite perpetual groove moment has to be at the bearcreek music festival in 2008. They were playing at the Big IV stage out side during a beautiful day, rather warm november day in north florida. all of a sudden, as if through some divine intervention, the heavens opened up to release a spectacular sun shower. as soon as the first drop hit the earth, the tire crowed went absolutely ape shit bonkers as sundog wailed ithe background. it was magic!
I can’t make it this year but my favorite Pgroove moment was last years Amberland during the Silent Headphones jam when the whole crowd got to listen to their new (at the time) album “Heal” on headphones with the band mingling thru the crowd. Great time.
I would say my favorite p groove moment was when they played at workplay in Birmingham. I had never seen them live before and when they busted out some talking heads I was smitten! The entire night was awesome because I somehow managed to stumble onto the stage after the show, and I got lucky and got to meet the whole band!! Awesome first p groove experience.
my favorite pgroove moment was August 5, 2006. It was the night before I went to college and the second night of a two-night run at the Variety Playhouse (hometown shows for me). The boys had been playing out of their minds all weekend and this was the debut of the Huffer-Dome so it was a pretty amazing couple of nights.
As the second set wound down I thought there was no way the show could get any better… that is until they played Only Always. It was the first time Pgroove had ever really blown me away. I’d enjoyed plenty of shows before, but never like this. The lyrics of that song, mixed with the serious impending change in my life, placed in the comforting context of a concert with all of my best friends changed my life. I am getting goosebumps right now just thinking about that song (as I always do).
It was right then and there that I decided I wanted to follow Perpeptual Groove and I have ever since. They’ve been the one thing I can always take comfort in during both the high and low moments of my life. I hope everyone can enjoy something as much as I enjoy PGroove.
all the saddest things ive seen
dont come close to what has been
all the great things left to be
things that keep me inbetween
Last show at Ziggy’s in Winston. Pretty fantastic night.
9-8-2006
I got to Winston-Salem and was immediately hugged by a PGroove fan that I had never met in person before named Rosalie. I knew from that moment that my 4 friends and I were in for a real treat (and not just because PGroove was playing at the legendary Ziggy’s). This particular night was a theme night dedicated to Miami Vice. The show started early with a handful of fans that got to enjoy dinner and conversation with the band and a special soundcheck mini-set that included a song that had never been performed live. The set concluded and my friends and I ran back to our hotel to get some drinks and to get into our Miami Vice costumes, which included lots of hair gel and 80’s apparel. The show started with “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins, which was another indication that 9-8-06 wasn’t going to be your average PGroove show. The band seamlessly segued into a song appropriately titled “Crockett and Tubbs,” in which they segued in and out of the Miami Vice theme song as well. Other great nods to the Miami Vice era included covers of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” Prince’s “Kiss,” and a reprise of “In The Air Tonight.” To this day, 9-8-06 remains my favorite PGroove moment and I still listen to this show in its entirety pretty regularly.
Cervantes, Denver, Feb 2007 and the most recent show I went to. =)
I saw PGroove in Atlanta at the variety playhouse awhile ago and i fell in love with the groove. The minute they started playing, I started dancing and I did not stop until it was over. Everytime i hear pgroove all i can do is start dancing!! I really want to go to Amberland, i need some more pgroove in my life!!
my first amberland in 2005…a few minutes into crockett and tubbs…i realized i was about to have the time of my life.
12/29/2005 – Georgia Theater
Stopped to stay with a friend in Athens on our way to Atlanta for NYE. I had heard Pgroove before but hadn’t had a chance to see them.
They blew my mind this night. It’s a memory I will never forget.
Inside the old Ga. Theater. The blue lights made it seem like the crowd was dancing in syncopation. They crushed a ‘thriller’cover in the first set. A really heated second set with a Green Tea sandwich. Then I thought the crowd was going to riot with a Zeppelin encore – when the levee breaks.
I walked out with a new measuring stick for live performances. Awesome night.
My favorite moment was seeing them march 5th at the riv in Chicago. They played three weeks, the first song of theirs i’ve ever heard. They played it so well!! I have a video clip posted on my wall that I took that night. It was the best thing ever
My favorite PG moment was undoubtedly my FIRST…which ironicly happens to be my first amberland 2 years ago! i had always listened to pgroove but some friends insisted that i go to amberland even though id never been to a show before. I will never forget as long as i live that magical moment under the tent that first night i heard them play live…it was A-MAZING!! Since then, ive been to HHI, ATLANTA, Athens, AMBERLAND, and BOTH new years shows not to mention i go see Brock play solo every time i get the chance. It actually pretty unusual i havent already bought my ticket, but regaurdless, I WILL BE THERE!!!!!!
My best Pgroove moment was at my first Amberland in 2005. My friend Robbie and I drove 20+ hours from Boston Massachusetts to get to the show. Our good friend Mark unforunetly coudn’t make the trek down because his doctors had found a blood clot in his leg and he had to go into emergency surgery the day before we left Boston. We caught Brock Butler after one of the day sets and told him all about our friend Mark, and that he was a HUGE fan of the band. Brock then asked me for my cell phone and called our friend Mark leaving him a voicemail wishing him a speedy recovery. Mark still has that message on his phone today and it is legend amoung all of our friends.
Amberland is not only a weekend full of good friends and incredible music, it is a way of life. I now know where I will be every year come Memorial Day.
08/22/2008 – Cat’s Cradle
After two awesome sets, Brock came out by himself to start the encore It Starts Where It Ends, which I had never heard before live. Then the rest of the band comes out and drives home the most insane ISWIE. Me and my friends are right up to the stage and diggin every minute of it. Then the song builds like crazy and Brock tears into his guitar solo. He got right up to the edge of the stage and right down with the crowd. He stayed there and proceeded to shred the hell out of that solo, inches away from us. and then he finished it up with some sick vocals. That experience was unbelievable
So far, I would say PGroove @ Copper Mountain, CO Sunsation Fest 4-17-10. The show was a 1 setter, outside, and started at 330pm and within 5 minutes it became darker and started snowing…and snowing..not to mention we were standing on snow. It proceeded to snow for about 45 more minutes and then as the band was in their second to last song, like from a book, the snow just stopped and the sun was shining. Seeing PG in the rockies, in the snow, and being my 10th pgroove show of 2010 makes copper mountain my highlight. Oh by the way, after the set was over I then drove back to Denver and went to Cervantes that night for a last minute J. Wail show with “very special guest” Brock sitting in for 2 sets. It was a good day.
My best moment has to be getting engaged at Amberland ’07 during Walkin in Place. It is up on You Tube for those that were not there (and those that were and want to relive it).
The band was amazingly gratious and creative with their ideas. We pulled it off flawlessly and Jen never knew what was happening (at least until we took her blind fold off) and it blew her away.
I can never thank the Band enough for their love and friendship (part of the reason we all love them so much) and to the best fans anywhere – Amberland Peeps!
I had never heard P Groove play At the Screen, so when they opened with it at my last show, I couldn’t contain my excitement! Dancey pants all night!
Amberland ’08, when they started playing All This Everything pt.1 I had an experience that lasted until part way thru Teakwood Betz (over 2 hours!). I danced my ass off the entire time. Meeting Brock that same weekend was really cool also, he was super nice and actually acted like he wanted to be there.
halloween 2009. weird science. amazing.
Talking to brock last april 25th 2009 in chicago. Could never do that with another band of their caliber.
Well I guess I’m a bit of a newcomer to the PGroove scene, but I attended Amberland last year for my first PGroove experience. It literally changed my life and this past year has sucked because all I want to do is get back to Memorial Day weekend.
My favorite moment was at my first Amberland at the Deerfields. It’s me and my pals taking fritos and scooping chili cheese dip from the container it came in and getting cheese all over our knuckles – cause the container is poorly designed and does not allow a hand to scoop in comfort. Then putting our gross cheese knuckles into the bag of fritos and making it gross too. So funny, we didn’t give a shit.
The late night Stranglehold was the shit too!
Wooooo Amberland!
i have had many fav pg moments but my most amazing one was when we drove 12 hours 2 see pg for my bday and the show was sold out so i went online and wrote brock my number and told him how i couldnt get in then he called me …and me and my best friends got on the list making it the best birthday ever
So many, but maybe the best was at Amberland ’08, listening to Brock’s Sunday morning set from my hammock as I swayed in the breeze. If I could have that experience every morning I’d be a happy dude!
my favorite moment has to be “watching” the sound circle me during Moving In Stereo when P.Groove was on their Speed of Surround tour in 2004. Every show was presented in 5.1 dolby surround sound.
Hard to pick just one…
Amberland 2004. The last one at Uncledaddy’s original Amberland. Falling off the moving golf cart. Pulling a fast one on the GSP. etc, etc – met a bunch of longtime friends there
Amberland 2005 and 2006.
Jam in the Dam 2008. The whole trip. ’nuff said.
Caribbean Holidaze 2009. Again, the whole trip. ’nuff said.
Every moment I have experienced that has something to do with this band has been nothing short of amazing!
Every show so far has been pretty unreal. They always seem to outdo themselves, Looking forward to A-Land this year.
pgroove has the best energy when they are in the zone. I have had some of the top memories of my life at Perpetual Groove shows. Their music is so uplifting and the people are so friendly, I am satisfied after every show. The shows can be very emotional to the point of crying. I have without a doubt shed a few tears at a show or two. Their shows are a reason to bring people together as well. I even saw a couple get engaged on stage at Amberland. This Amberland I will be seeing an old friend that moved to California (as well as many other old friends), and I will also meet a bunch of new, amazing people that have similar musical interests. Amberland is a great place to see Perpetual Groove because it combines nature, the PGroove community, and lots of Pgroove. Also throw in some good weather, some good bbq, a lake to swim in, lots of new friends, anything else you could ask for…my favorite weekend of the year.
A: My favorite moment at a PGROOVE show is the one that is gonna come soonest.
Playing the first main-stage set at the very first Rothbury festival. I’m positive that more than half the crowd had never gotten the chance to see PGroove before, myself included, and there was no better time and place to do so than in the middle of a Michigan forest to kick off the best damn weekend many of us have ever experienced. Just magical. The vibe was just right, and the set was a monster. I still get chills watching the iClips video or listening to the AUD on archive.org.
The comradeship that surrounds perps is absolutely unbelievable. Friends, and fans gather regularly with or without a live performance, and keep up, cook out, and have a blast. It’s actually the most special thing about Amberland, the weekend serves as somewhat of a reunion giving fans the opportunity to meet, reconnect, catch up, and relax. What better way is there to do such a thing than to a soundtrack of your favorite band, enjoying outstanding themes, and taking in the overall magic that is Amberland.
Variety Playhouse, Halloween 2005. When they dressed up as Jackson 5 for the first set. Then came back as zombies for the second set and opened with thriller. First show ever and by far my favorite.
Well, my favorite PGroove memory would be from November of 1999. It was their first show outside of Savannah, Ga at The Chill & Grill on Folly Beach. It only held about 20 people but there was easily 40 people in that room. It was nearly all instrumental and the room was bouncing, the floor was moving. What a special night. And the rest is history!
I don’t know which moment to pick to tell about.. Pretty much every show i’ve been to so far has been absolutely amazing. I’ve only been listening to pgroove for two years now and any opportunity i get i’ll take it!! My fav moment would have to be last week at the engine room, when me and a friend were hanging out backstage with a few of the guys and adam said we were his friends, it really touched me and talking about it makes me soo happpy!! I’ve gotten the pleasure of chilling with them and getting to actually know them. Amberland is going to be amazing ^_^
My favorite P Groove moment has to be during the late night set at my first Amberland in 2008. I was worn out and back at my campsite & all my friends were crashing. I was about to go to bed myself when my friend Adam told me to get the fuck up and lets go rage it out until the music stops. I get up with a energy that I thought could not have summoned. We make it to the tent stage and we’re hanging back just bobbing our heads a little, when the boys break out a super duper nasty Sapranos’ Theme. My friend and I are trying to figure out what television show the song was from, when we look into the field behind us. We see our buddy, shirt off, two fists full of glow sticks, with his sun glasses on, dancing like he is at one the best raves ever, which is probably true, anyway he is going deeper and deeper into the field by himself. We fall to the ground laughing, and after that I got my first Naive Melody, which was a very special moment too. It is truly one of my favorite moments I have experienced on this earth. Thanks P Groove you have made me smile an unthinkable amount of times, and I’ll see yall on Memorial Day.
amberland ’09 breakin it down all night in da circus tent where did all the penguins go
Amberland 2005 – my first show. I’ve been hooked since.
I have to go with Danny. “The Breeze” at Amberland 05 was sick.
My favorite PGroove moment was when Brock came to my hospital room and played three songs for me. I had just been diagnosed with Leukemia in the summer of 05 and was taken to Emory University hospital; Brock came up and played three songs in my room. I know he played Genesis and 3 Weeks, and I think Niave Melody was the third. I know it was only one person from the band, but just hearing a couple of the band’s songs uplifted my spirits tremendously. PGroove was and still is one of my favorite bands. It just showed me how something so simple can have such an impact. Brock has to be one of the nicest and most humble persons I have ever met.
Ever since I was thirteen, im twenty-one now, perpetual groove has been my favorite band. This was back when Sweet Oblivious Antidote was coming out and the band played multiple nights a week at the old JJ Cagneys in Savannah. My mom new pgroove was my favorite band so she talked to the owner of Cagneys and got me in so i could see them. The only 13 year old in the bar. Soon after that they started having there first all ages show. I like to think i had a part in that.
ALL PGROOVE MOMENTS HAVE BEEN MEMORABLE. from my first show in like 06 at the state theatre in falls church, va. Langerado 2008. more recently. feeling like I was going to come through the roof at the masquerade in ATL last year as well as collecting a nice group of setlists from their more recent florida runs….i hope i get the tickets, but either way… SEE YOU AT AMBERLAND!!!!!!!
My favorite PG moment is simply the Life encore from 3/26/2010. It was a very bittersweet moment. I’m hoping that my all time favorite PG moment is yet to come though.
Seeing Perpetual Groove at the GA Theatre in the Fall of 2007 completely blew me away. I’ll always remember the Teakwood Betz opening…i’ve been hooked ever since.
New Years ’08 when alarms rang out at the Neighborhood!! Atlanta’s men of fire showed in full force.. They knew that crowd would rather’d burn up than evacuate that party.. A couple of them had ear to ear grins as they danced their way through the confusion.. I can see them now and I still laugh my ass off thinking about it..!
Charlotte.. Not sure why I said ATL..
Halloween 2009 at The National was my first show. I was completely blown away by how much fun and energy a show could bring. I have been hooked ever since to the groove and cannot get enough of the fun!
My favorite experience riding the groove would have to be my first experience hearing the boys lay it down. I had heard about the band before but never got a chance to see them play…so a few friends and I headed to Richmond, VA to see their Halloween 09 show. WOW! from the first note to Brock’s final breath the concert was nothing short of amazing. Classics like 3 weeks, speed queen, cairo as well as fun covers (blitzkreig bop, dont you forget about me, and twist and shout) Not to mention a beautiful teakwood>weird science>teakwood sandwich. After the show Hruby came down and gave us the setlist and we got to chat with he and brock. This show changed my idea of live music and after that day I went to 4 pgroove shows in the next 3 months and continue to ride to groove to this day! These boys are some of the nicest, most fun-loving people I have ever seen and I feel honored to have been able to see such an amazing event live.
Afro wigs and aviators.
I firmly believe in giving multiple chances to bands. I had attended Four Pgroove shows and was not very moved by them. However, being true to my belief that if you try more than a few times you will hear, as they used to say on fraggle rock, THE INNER PING. This show right here, my fifth, was the one that GOT ME HOOKED. I am forever indebted to them now for showing me what they could really do. Here is the show>>>
http://www.archive.org/details/pgroove2006-12-16.flac16
Disc 1 – Set I
1. Long Past Settled In
2. Mota
3. Out Here
4. Space Oddity->
5. Space Paranoids
6. Breeze
7. Mellifluous
Disc 2 – set II
1. March of Gibbles Army
2. AIM
3. Occam’s Blazer
4. No Decorations
5. Kiss
Disc 3 – Encore
1. Speed Queen
My favorite Pgroove moment. Simply Put: The first time I saw this band and realized just how Powerful this music was and is, and realizing that nothing outside of that music experience exist during the show.
Best PG moment EVER… I went down to good ol’ Statesboro GA a few weeks ago to see them play at buffalo’s. Not being used to the “drink till you die” mentality of the local college (and otherwise) population, I found myself inebriated and unable to attend the show :(! Luckily for me; the Jam gods found me in favor of good fortune and somewhere in-between my 19th and 20th jager-bomb (how appropriate for this years Sunday theme!) the boys (minus brock) showed up where I was staying! I love and have loved their music since I heard of them about 6 months after “perpetual groove” was released… but there was no musical bliss this night… It was pure nirvana. LONG LIVE PG
Got to be my first show back in 2004, the same night PG unveiled It Starts Where It Ends for the first time. I will never forget that show at the Variety Playhouse. From start to finish, I was absolutely floored and smiling the whole time…100+ shows later, I get to relive that feeling every time I see this band.
One of my favorites, without a doubt!
The summer of 2006. The Orange Peel, Asheville, Nc. So Much as Goodbye and Huff sets off the fire alarm….everybody evacuates, spends 15 minutes outside, as we get back going they pick up right where they left off….dirty.
After seeing this band for close to 10 years, alot of the memories melt into one. Each and every member of this organization is top notch and more than willing to help out a fan in need. From hospital visits to the last minute add to the guest list on a sold out show, Pgroove is a band that goes above and beyond the call of musicians.
Amberland…it’s not a place, it’s a state of mind. It’s where you can lose yourself and someone will be there to catch you or dance with you…whichever the case may be. Life long friends will be made and the best of memories will ever be etched in your brain.
After seeing PGroove numerous times in Athens, Ga, I would most certainly say that my favorite experience with the band was the benefit show for the GA Theatre at the Classic Center. As my friends and I are all huge PGroove fans we had all bought our tickets for the 2 night run scheduled for the GA Theatre. The morning of the day PGroove was scheduled for their first show at the theatre, I remember getting countless phone calls and text messages telling me that the Georgia Theatre had burnt down. I immediately woke up and drove downtown to see for myself because it seemed impossible. There it was still smoking. Everyone who has ever been to the theatre, especially frequent visitors, were heart broken. There was a huge void left in Athens. Perpetual Groove immediately acted! They scheduled a benefit concert the next night which would have been their second night at the GA Theatre. Anyone who already had tickets for the theatre recieved free admission to the one night show at the Classic Center and the price difference was donated to the theatre. People could also buy tickets for the show and those sales were also donated to the Georgia Theatre. People from all over Athens and elsewhere came to the packed out show at the Classic Center. You could seriously feel all the emotion through out the music hall. PGroove put on an amazing show and shared some very touching words. After being a fan of PGroove for so long I realized this night that not only did I love the band for their music but their dedication to their fans and the community that helped make the band as well known as they are! I still have my ticket from this show.