The Norwich Arts Center is bringing Richiman and Groove Nice, an American style blues band from Seoul, South Korea, to southeastern Connecticut for the first time.

The concert is at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5.

Richiman and Groove Nice formed in 2018 as the "Richiman Trio" and entered the 2019 International Blues Challenge in Memphis as a representative of the Korea Blues Society. While performing there, Richiman saw and heard American blues and felt this was his calling.

"We are a blues band from South Korea that wants to play the American style of blues,” Richiman says. “We grew up in Korea but fell in love with American blues."

Three years later, the Richiman Trio replaced their bassist and changed their sound to be more groove-oriented. The new line-up was named Richiman and Groove Nice.

They returned to the International Blues Challenge in 2022. There they became a top five finalist out of hundreds of performers from around the world. It is the first time any Korean blues band has reached the finals in the history of the blues challenge.

Richiman and Groove Nice released an EP called "Memphis Special; one take live," which is a recording of their set in the IBC finals. They are currently working on a full-length album recorded at famed Royal Recording Studio in Memphis where Al Green recorded his most famous works.

Tickets are $25 for adults; $23 for seniors, military and students; and $20 for NAC members. Visit www.norwicharts.org.