Bobby & Steve are twin brothers Bobby and Steve Lavinière from London’s East End, the DJs, promoters and broadcasters behind Garage City, Soul Heaven and Groove Odyssey. Since they started DJing in 1984, they have been at the heart of UK soulful house, from their long-running Kiss FM show to residencies at Ministry of Sound and in Ibiza.
Bobby & Steve at a glance
- Who: twin brothers Robert (Bobby) and Stephen (Steve) Lavinière, also known as Bobby Zoo and Stevie Zoo
- From: the East End of London
- Started DJing: 1984
- Radio: Zoo Experience on Kiss FM from 1985
- Club brands: Klub Zoo, Garage City (1991 to 2002), Soul Heaven (from 2001) and Groove Odyssey (from 2008)
- Honours: a 1997 MOBO nomination and a lifetime achievement award from Chicago’s Chosen Few in 2016
From Forest Gate to Kiss FM
The brothers began in 1984 with a regular gig at Simpson’s wine bar in Forest Gate, and soon played the 1980s warehouse party scene alongside Norman Jay, Trevor Nelson and Jazzie B. From 1985 they presented Zoo Experience on Kiss FM on Friday nights, which became the station’s longest-running specialist show. Their club night Klub Zoo ran at Munkberry’s and later the Soho Theatre, playing soul, disco and rare groove.
Paradise Garage and the move to house
A visit to Larry Levan’s Paradise Garage in New York in 1987 changed everything. They came home committed to garage and house, and in 1991 launched Garage City with Kiss FM. Over the next decade it welcomed guests including Masters At Work, Kerri Chandler, Tony Humphries, Todd Terry and Danny Tenaglia.
Soul Heaven and Groove Odyssey
In 2001 they launched Soul Heaven at Ministry of Sound and began an Ibiza residency at El Divino, with compilations released by Defected Records. In 2008 they founded Groove Odyssey, a label and club brand, with Michael Hughes. Groove Odyssey has held a residency at Ministry of Sound, hosted a main stage at 51st State Festival and runs the annual GO Ibiza weekender.
Recognition
- A MOBO nomination in 1997
- A remix of Faith Evans for Bad Boy Records
- The first international guests at Chicago’s Chosen Few festival in 2016, where they received a lifetime achievement award
- Their debut artist album in 2020, featuring Leroy Burgess, Duane Harden, Jean Carne and Barbara Tucker
Dance For Stevie
In 2020 Steve Lavinière suffered a rare and serious brain injury after contracting COVID-19. Since then, Bobby and the soulful house community have rallied around him with the Dance For Stevie events, bringing back the Garage City spirit to raise funds for his care.
Frequently asked questions about Bobby & Steve
Who are Bobby & Steve?
Twin brothers Bobby and Steve Lavinière, London DJs and promoters behind Garage City, Soul Heaven and Groove Odyssey.
What is Groove Odyssey?
The soulful house label and club brand they founded in 2008 with Michael Hughes.
What was Garage City?
Their club night, run with Kiss FM from 1991 to 2002, which brought the biggest US house DJs to London.
What is Dance For Stevie?
A series of fundraising events supporting Steve Lavinière’s care since his illness in 2020.
Source: Traxsource.
Keep listening
Steve Bell plays soulful, deep and vocal house across the UK, Ibiza and beyond. Catch his monthly DancersHip show and live sets, or see the media pack to book Steve for your event.
