Groove Stain is a band determined to amplify the nucleus of the rock/reggae genre. It was among the halls of East Coweta High School where schoolmates Erok Patterson, Mike Hatton and Jon Etheridge allied their musical talent.

Their first EP demonstrated keen musical talent humbled by the trio’s adolescent buffoonery. It spawned the 1999 release of their first full length album, Open up a Can, which caught the ears of budding Atlanta hip-hop DJs Chris Luva Luva (a.k.a. Ludacris) and Poon Daddy. This opened the door for the band to perform with Ludacris in Statesboro, GA, and contribute to “Midnight Train” on Luda’s debut album, Incognegro.

In 2000, Patterson and Hatton sharpened their skills at the Atlanta Institute of Music, while Jonny Etheridge studied music education at the University of West Georgia. It was at AIM where Patterson and Hatton met drummer Brian Daggett, who had previous experience working with SOJA. Daggett brought diversity to the band by adding the reggae influence that is the backbone of their music today. Daggett’s exceptional drumming inspired Groove Stain to finish their second album, The Other 9 to 5, which they recorded at Full Sail University. During this time the band expanded their fan base throughout the southeast, touring from Texas to the Carolinas.

2007 saw the release of their self-titled album, Groove Stain. After years devoted to regional touring the band took on the rest of the States alongside SOJA, Ballyhoo, and Jimmie’s Chicken Shack. For the next three years, the band leapt at opportunities to share the stage with artists like Snoop Dogg, Nappy Roots, Rehab, Reel Big Fish, The English Beat, Less Than Jake, and Weezer.

May 2010 introduced Brian Dagget with the opportunity to sit in as drummer on SOJA’s European tour. The Groove Stain stalwart triumphantly arrived back in Atlanta in time to complete the band’s fourth and most recent album, Out All Night, which was produced and engineered by Grammy winner Juan Covas. The album was ranked as one of the top twenty reggae albums of 2010 on iTunes, and is featured on iTunes UK, Europe, Japan and South America.

In 2011 the band welcomed keyboard player Eric Cohen-Greenberg and trombone player Sam Szpendyk. Amidst a packed touring schedule, the band is now anticipating the 2012 premier of their album produced by Atlanta’s own Rico Wade and Organized Noize, followed by a tour with legendary Toots and the Maytals.