Monday, February 21, 2011

The London International Ska Festival: News & Updates


Its just exactly two months out from the start of the London International Ska Festival and if you have not made your travel plans or purchased your tickets yet you better do it soon. One day tickets for the show on Friday April 22nd are nearly sold out. Here's the latest news and updates leading up to the festival:

The Loafers, featuring festival organizer Sean Flowerdew, had their very first rehearsal in 22 years this past weekend!  The band is scheduled to play a one-time only reunion show as part of the festival on Friday April 22nd. See the picture below:


There is now a London International Ska Festival YouTube page that includes great videos of all the bands that are performing over the 4-day festival.  Below is a video that profiles soul singer James Hunter who will be performing on Thursday, April 21st and video of Boston-based Bim Skala Bim (one of the only American bands playing the festival) who will be performing the final night of the festival on Sunday April, 24th.





The other big festival related news is that Dave Wakeling and The English Beat have announced an additional show in the U.K.  Following their performance at the festival on Saturday April 23rd, the band will play a headlining gig at the 2-Tone Central Museum in Coventry on Saturday April 30th. They will be joined by a who's who of 2-Tone musicians including Roddy Byers of The Specials, Rhoda Dakar of The Bodysnatchers and The Special A.K.A and Jennie Matthias of The Belle Stars. Tickets are still available from the 2-Tone Central web site.

Finally, below is the festival schedule with the list of bands performing each night:

Thursday April 21, 2011 - 7pm-3am
KEN BOOTHE (Jamaica)*
JAMES HUNTER
GIULIANO PALMA & THE BLUEBEATERS (Italy)*
MAROON TOWN

DJS:
CLIVE CHIN (Randys)
RHODA DAKAR (Bodysnatchers/Special AKA)
TOMMY ROCK-A-SHACKA (Japan)
TAKESHI OKAWA (Japan-The Ska Flames/Sun Shot)

Friday April 22, 2011 - 6pm-3am
DAVE & ANSELL COLLINS (Jamaica)
THE TROJANS
THE LOAFERS (one-off reformation)*
HOTKNIVES (orig.line up)*
THE CAROLOREGIANS (Belgium)
SKAOS (Germany)*
LES EJECTES (France)*

DJS:
GAZ MAYALL (Gazs Rockin Blues)
JIM COX
GREEDY G

Saturday April 23, 2011 - 6pm-3am
THE ENGLISH BEAT with DAVE WAKELING
DUB PISTOLS
INTENSIFIED
NAPOLEON SOLO (Denmark)*
THE AMPHETAMEANIES (Scotland)
JIMMY THE SQUIRREL

DJS:
LYNVAL GOLDING (The Specials)*
WRONGTOM
FELIX HALL

Sunday April 24, 2011 - 6pm-2am
BOB ANDY & MARCIA GRIFFITHS (Jamaica)*
THE SKA FLAMES (Japan)*
BIM SKALA BIM (USA)*
THE SIDEWALK DOCTORS
CARTOON VIOLENCE (Wales)

DJS:
MARK LAMARR
DUB VENDOR ALL-STARS
THE TIGHTEN UP CREW ft. CHAMPIAN MC

*exclusive UK shows

Full details and tickets available

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