Jumping brass, big beats and a flurry of bass – Melbourne’s ska scene has been hopping with rudies, mods, punks and skins for over 50 years. Two nights bring it all together, inside the splendour of the Foxtel Festival Hub.
Sixty years ago, a small island in the Caribbean changed the world’s musical landscape forever. Those infectious Jamaican beats reverberated around the globe and into the clubs and music halls of Melbourne.
Now, Melbourne Festival brings three golden eras of local ska back to life for two unparalleled nights of rhythm and skanking, MC’d by Melbourne musicologist and presenter of PBS’s Blue Juice, Mohair Slim. Melbourne ska pioneers The Caribs, who relocated to Jamaica over 50 years ago to become an influential part of the local music scene, return to the stage alongside 80s mainstays Strange Tenants, in their original line-up, and The Ska Vendors joined by Intensified's Steve Harrington.
Ska City
For the middle weekend of the Festival, from 5pm the Foxtel Festival Hub becomes ska-central. Put on your moonstomp boots and pork-pie hat and head down to the Foxtel Festival Hub for the biggest round up of rudeboys seen outside of Jamaica.
Originally shunned as the hooligans of Jamaica’s 1960s dancehalls, rudeboy fashion, phrases and dance moves have since been adopted by ska music fans across the globe, from Kingston to London to Melbourne. Enter our competitions with your baddest rudeboy fashion and skankin’ dance moves. Step into the Skank Booth and brush up on your dance skills, or pick up a classic 7’ inch at the ska, rocksteady and reggae record fair while feasting on Sassy’s famous Jamaican jerk chicken.
18+ or accompanied by a responsible parent or guardian.
The Caribs / Strange Tenants / The Ska Vendors
Foxtel Festival Hub
Fri 18 & Sat 19 Oct
Doors at 7pm
Ska City
Foxtel Festival Hub
Fri 18 & Sat 19 Oct
5pm-late
Tickets: http://www.melbournefestival.com.au/program/a-celebration-of-melbourne-s...
