Sidewalk Empire vocalist Nina Thompson lets out a long sigh and starts nodding her head to a groove playing inside her head.

'We practiced last week and it was just like ‘oh that's right, yeah that's cool',” she says as a smile lights her face and the nodding starts getting more intense.

Sidewalk Empire, clockwise from bottom: Jeff Kildare, Melissa Van Der Spek, Andrew Gillions, Steve Kildare, Curtis Reid, and Nina Thompson, play Mauao Performing Arts Centre on December 4. Photo: Phreaze Factory Photography.

After a long hiatus Sidewalk Empire will get their groove on again when they play the Mauao Performing Arts Centre this week.

They'll be supported by Waihi band Vinyl Bsicuit, who are like the peas to Sidewalk's carrots.

'Both of our bands are really inspired by yesterday's music, like the warm tones of Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder basslines, all that tasty stuff,” says Nina.

'But we're both finding ways to give those sounds a modern twist, give it something else and in that regard our bands work really well together.”

Sidewalk Empire are Jeff Kildare, Melissa Van Der Spek, Steve Kildare, Curtis Reid, Andrew Gillions, and Nina Thompson.

The sound they produce is a nice mix of funk, soul, bit of rock, Motown, and a groove that once you pop you just can't stop.

It's been a long time between gigs but the time has not been wasted - they've kept busy taking care of the business side of things and writing new material for an EP they plan to record soon.

They have also been officially announced as one of the 60 acts performing at Sundaise Festival being held in Waihi next year.

There's also been a couple of line-up changes due to previous members' outside commitments, but that can be part and parcel of being in a band.

'Like a lot of bands it hasn't been an easy path,” says Nina, 'but I feel we've got an awesome crew of people now who are all about music.

'They are really passionate, flexible, willing to put music first and say ‘this is my thing', which I think is quite important.”

Nina says Thursday will be Sidewalk's 'oh, hello, we're back again” show and everyone in the band is just itching to get back up on stage.

Sidewalk just wants to get people off their butt and moving and if that sounds like a bit of you then make sure you head on down to Mauao PAC.

'Whether it's a ballad-type song with stacked harmonies, in the realm of Fleetwood Mac, or whether it's a Stevie Wonder-esque funk tune, that groove is always there,” she adds.

'That's the foundation of our sound, the groove.”

Sidewalk Empire with Vinyl Biscuit are playing the Mauao Performing Arts Centre, 11 Totara St, Mount Maunganui, on Thursday, December 4, from 8pm

Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased from Creative Tauranga, 112 Willow St, Tauranga, or the Mauao Performing Arts Centre. Limited door sales will be available.

Check out Sidewalk Empire's latest sing ‘Paperbag Princess' below: