Performer: Grouplove

Type of music: Indie rock

About: It’s rare that Birmingham gets to be one of the first stops on a group’s headlining world tour. But Grouplove fans at SlossFest will take delight knowing they are seeing the second show of the group’s tour, with the band performing songs from its long-anticipated third album, “Big Mess,” set for release in September.

Grouplove is as creative as it is energetic, having formed in 2009 when a group of friends met at the Ikarus artist commune in the village of Avdou, Crete. The Los Angeles-based band members are Hannah Hooper (vocals, keyboards), Christian Zucconi (vocals, guitar), Sean Gadd (bass, vocals), Andrew Wessen (guitar, vocals) and Ryan Rabin (drums).

Their debut album, “Never Trust a Happy Song,” was released in 2011. It included four singles, one that scored the band a No.1 on the U.S. Alternative Chart and was featured in several commercials (Apple and Coca-Cola), and another that was used in an episode of “Glee.” The album also reached the top 5 on Billboard’s Heatseekers album chart for new and developing acts.

Grouplove members Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi perform at the KROQ Weenie Roast y Fiesta. (Contributed)

The SlossFest audience will be among the first to hear tunes from Grouplove’s upcoming third album. (Contributed)

The SlossFest audience will be among the first to hear tunes from Grouplove’s upcoming third album. (Contributed)

The SlossFest audience will be among the first to hear tunes from Grouplove’s upcoming third album. (Contributed)

The SlossFest audience will be among the first to hear tunes from Grouplove’s upcoming third album. (Contributed)

The band’s second album, “Spreading Rumours,” was released in 2013 to high acclaim from USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, NYLON and National Public Radio. The band has played many festivals, including Bonaroo, Lollapalooza, Firefly and Coachella, and in 2014 released “I’m With You,” a short-form tour documentary.

Gearing up for its third album release this fall, Grouplove’s momentum isn’t slowing down. “We made this album at an important crossroads in our lives,” said Zucconi .

You can see a trailer of four songs from the new album on the band’s website www.grouplove.com. You can also follow Grouplove on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Source: www.grouplove.com

Discography: “Never Trust a Happy Song” (2011), “Spreading Rumours,” (2013), “Big Mess” (2016).

You might have heard: “Tongue Tied,” “Ways to Go,” “Let Me In,” “Colours,” “Itchin’ for a Photograph.”

Playing at SlossFest: Grouplove will perform on the Steam stage Saturday, July 16, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m.

Sloss Music and Arts Festival takes place at the historic Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham July 16-17 and features 40 performers on four stages. Tickets can be purchased here.