2013 London International Ska Festival: March 28-31!

The London International Ska Festival is gearing up for Easter weekend (March 28-31, 2013), with 4 main events and a further 6 fringe events planned across legendary London venues, including cinema, DJ all-nighters, a record fair, a Thames boat cruise and exhibitions. Tickets to this once in a lifetime festival are still available here.

The festival is the brainchild of Sean Flowerdew (Special Beat, Pama International) who also helped organize the original festival 25 years ago at The Fridge in Brixton. Flowerdew has pulled out all the stops for the 2013 edition of the festival which will showcase all that ska music has to offer from its roots in rhythm and blues, mento and calypso, to the Jamaican originators, the progression through rocksteady and reggae, 2 Tone, ska-punk and right up-to-date with 21st century ska sounds with both day time and evening shows as well as DJ sets.

The headliners including a dazzling mix of icons, established acts and up and comers including Rico Rodriguez (who will perform the entire Man From Wareika album), a DJ set by Jerry Dammers, BB Seaton, Owen Gray and Vin Gordon on a Thames Cruise), Buster Shuffle, Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra, Mr. T Bone, Razika, a Trojan Explosion showcase, a Do The Dog showcase and a finale featuring Ken Boothe and a 2-Tone Disco featuring Rhoda Dakar.

Below is a full 4-day overview of the entire 2013 LISF schedule.

LISF DAY 1 – THURSDAY -- MARCH 28, 2013

Evening show – 7pm-11pm
RICO RODRIGUEZ performing Man From Wareika
THE SIDEWALK DOCTORS
DJ DAVID KATZ
at The Jazz Cafe, Parkway, Camden, London NW1

Clubnight – 11pm-2am
JERRY DAMMERS (THE SPECIALS) DJ set only
at The Jazz Cafe, Parkway, Camden, London NW1

LISF DAY 2 – GOOD FRIDAY – MARCH 29, 2013

Daytime – Studio One Thames Cruise (12.30-4.30pm)
BB SEATON (The Gaylads/Bibby & The Astronauts)
OWEN GRAY (one of Studio One’s first artists)
VIN GORDON aka DON DRUMMOND JNR
DJ CHRIS PECKINGS (Peckings Studio1)
TRUE IDENTITY
& more tba
onboard The Dixie Queen, Tower Hill, Thames.

Evening show – 7pm – 11pm
BUSTER SHUFFLE
PANNONIA ALLSTARS SKA ORCHESTRA (Hungary)
ED ROME
MR T BONE & THE YOUNG LIONS (Italy)
BOMBSKARE (Scotland)
RAZIKA (Norway)
at The Garage, Highbury Corner, London N5.

Clubnights – 11pm-4am
Rm.1 – SKYLARKIN SOUND SYSTEM w. DJ DEREK & COUNT SKYLARKIN plus PAMA INTERNATIONAL
Rm.2 – CELLOS COAST TO COAST w. DJ CELLO & KRIS TEBBUTT (Reggae Jeggae)
at The Garage, Highbury Corner, Islington
(opp. Highbury & Islington tube)

LISF DAY 3 – SATURDAY - MARCH 30, 2013

Evening show – 7pm-11pm
Trojan Explosion
FREDDIE NOTES (Trojan Rcds/Montego Bay)
INTENSIFIED
THE UPSESSIONS (Netherlands)
DJ PHIL BUSH – SOUNDS & PRESSURE
& more tba
at The 100 Club, 100 Oxford St, London W1

All-nighter – 10pm-6am
TRIBUTE TO DUKE VIN:
THE LISF UK SOUND SYSTEM CONFERENCE 2013
Sponsored by www.lionvibes.com Reggae Vinyl Heaven

- The Sound System Room
METRO & EDDIE REGAL (Metro Sound)
GLADDY WAX
RAS DIGBY (Sir Jessus Sound)
JUMBO (Java Hi-Power)
TIGHTEN UP CREW w. CHAMPIAN (Jamdown Rockers)
- Room 2
MUNGOS HI FI meets WRONG TOM
at Islington Metal Works, Torrens St, Islington N1
(behind Angel tube station)

LISF DAY 4 – EASTER SUNDAY MARCH 31, 2013

Daytime – Exhibition/record fair – midday – 5pm
LONDON INTL SKA FESTIVAL SUNDAY SOCIAL
Boss DJs, record fair, exhibitions, book signings
at Dingwalls, Camden Lock, Camden, London NW1

Daytime – 2pm-6pm
DO THE DOG SPECIAL
CARTOON VIOLENCE (offical album launch party)
THE SPLITTERS
ROBB BLAKE (from Whitmore)
at The Dublin Castle, Parkway, Camden, London NW1

Evening – 7pm-11pm
KEN BOOTHE
100 MEN starring Mik Whitnall
POTATO 5 DJ set
at Dingwalls, Camden Lock, London NW1

Closing party – 11pm-2am
THE 2 TONE DISCO – THE SOUNDS OF 79 club night
featuring
RHODA DAKAR
THE TIME TUNNEL CREW
at Dingwalls, Camden Lock, London NW1