In the off chance you have not been acquainted, let me first introduce you. The Groove Bomb started life serving the Portland metro area as a tri-met bus running up and down Burnside for some twenty years. Sold at auction and bought as a “parts” bus, she sat partially disassembled in a yard till plants grew into her undercarriage and mice took up residence in her interior.

Then in 2005 Astral Vortex purchased her for one cigarette. Armed with a vision, a couple of dollars from donations, camp fees and a volunteer crew that numbered in the hundreds the rusty parts bus was resurrected and made her debut as an Art Car at Burningman ’05.

A constant work in progress, the converted RV now sports a lounge with sleeping space; a bar that includes a mini fridge, stove, and sink; removable staircase and handrails to turn the topside into a stage/dance floor/viewing area/DJ booth/fire performance space; generators for electrical power; and a decent sound system.

She makes appearances at many community events such as Burningman regional events, and fundraisers for City Repair Project. She has shuttled The March Fourth Marching Band to many of its northwest performances, transported feisty roller-girls on victory tours, acted as a stage, giant sound system and chill space for friends weddings, played designated driver for bar hopping parties, and took a road trip to Baja for Burning Door. Snow day 2007 armed with new snow chains and plenty of hot cocoa with mini marshmallows she ventured out transporting people, snowballs and good cheer to the city at large. Funded by donations and tended by a small but dedicated volunteer crew The Mobile Groove Bomb continues to serve the Portland metro community.