Bio

What do you get if you mix a pound of Fela Kuti's Afrika 70, two cupfuls of The Meters, 250g of thinly sliced early James Brown and a level dessert spoon of psychedelic rock? -you get the heaving, convulsing powerhouse of soul music that is The Hot Grits.

The Hot Grits have been electrifying club dancefloors and festival stages around New Zealand with an eclectic, take no prisoners approach to soul and afrobeat music. When THG hit their stride, no-one in the room is immune from the power and sheer soulfulness of their groove, and band and audience become one in a giant, convulsing testament to the power of good music. The overall Hot Grits sound is funky and deep, but always powerful and never too smooth.

The Hot Grits have steadily evolved into a powerhouse live outfit, capable of packing out venues and creating havoc on any dancefloor. Highlights have included playing to several thousand people at 95bFM's Summer Series concerts in Albert Park, bringing the house down at the Winter Garden Theatre during AK03 and AK05, and rocking festivals from Grey Lynn and Waiheke to the Coromandel and Nelson. Along the way, THG have shared bills with a diverse array of acts, including Pluto, Goldenhorse, City Newton Bombers, North Shore Pony Club, One Million Dollars, King Kapisi, Greg Johnson, The Sneaks and The Phoenix Foundation.

Following successful single releases to student radio, October 2006 saw THG release the Championship Sounds EP. This release spawned several high-rotation singles on student radio nationwide, charted on George FM and contributed to THG placing among the top 50 most played acts on Wellington's Radio Active for 2006.

In 2008 THG released It's Too Drunk To Be This Early.

Band Members:
Barnie Duncan (lead vocals)
Elitia Clark (lead vocals)
Jim A'Hara (trombone)
Shaun O'Kane (tenor saxophone)
Ben McNicoll (baritone saxophone)
Nisha Madham (keyboards)
Martin Sutcliffe (guitar)
Marlon Lobo (bass)
Alistair Deverick (drums)
Nick Wood (percussion)
Trygve Wakenshaw (percussion)