Ky-Mani Marley
 “Dear dad I really didn't get to know you, and sometimes I sit and wondering it makes me blue.” Ky-Mani released the track “Dear Dad” in 2000, cementing his place in the reggae world as well as a love for his father. While one would think it tough to live up to the Marley name, Ky-Mani has done so in a fashion that is honest, genuine, and sincere. He has worked with a diverse cast of artists including Marcia Griffiths, Beenie Man, Young Buck, and has shared the stage with Van Halen for their 2007 North American tour. Ky-Mani’s latest album “Evolution of a Revolution” was recorded at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica. This is the first time he has recorded in this studio since his father founded it in the 1960s. His blend of conscious reggae and hip-hop will be a highlight of this year’s festival.
http://www.kymani-marley.com/
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Gramps Morgan
 Roy “Gramps” Morgan and his 4 siblings have sold out stadiums across the globe as Morgan Heritage. After nearly 3 decades, Gramps is breaking out on his own and taking things to the next level. He is able to prove that positive music can still top the charts with his conscious reggae and lovers rock. “I want to heal people through music. I just want to give people new music and let people know that everything is going to be alright. I want to reason with my fans and get personal with them ‘cause everyone has problems. My music is about healing, heart to heart." says Gramps. His show promises to be a great one for hardcore and new reggae fans alike.
http://www.grampsmorgan.com
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Ken Boothe
 Ken Boothe is one of rocksteady’s legendary entertainers. He has recorded some of the genre’s best known tracks such as “Freedom Street”, “Crying Over You”, and “Everything I Own”. He has written, recorded, and produced with many of Jamaica’s top ska and reggae labels including Studio One and Beverly’s Records. He even recorded many chart-topping hits with the classic Trojan label. In 2003 he was given the Order of Distinction for his work with Jamaican music by the Jamaican government. His powerful and soulful voice rings through to this day and he remains one of ska’s living legends.
http://www.kenboothemusic.com/
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The Planet Smashers
 The Planet Smashers are considered to be one of North America’s top ska acts today and their live show is only testament to this fact. Their blend of third-wave ska and party anthems with unique and often humorous lyrics have found them fans from far and wide. The Planet Smashers were formed in 1994 in Monteal, Quebec. They have toured the globe times over and have released 7 albums, a DVD, and are more than a little excited to be back on the island for the first time in 7 years. Lead guitar and singer Matt Collyer is also well known for founding Stomp Records, one of Canada’s premiere labels for ska and punk bands such as The Kingpins, The Flatliners, and Bedouin Soundclash.
http://www.planetsmashers.net/
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Gaudi
 Gaudi was born in Italy, but is now a London-based keyboardist, producer, and artist. Gaudi’s dynamic and eclectic style has sent him to the top of the nu-beat scene. His music is an organic mix of dub, electronica, and world beat. His music is regularly performed live in the U.K. and internationally. Always looking for the next movement, Gaudi constantly searches for new forms of sounds and grooves which has lead him to remain one of the top artists today. His performance will be one of the most compelling at this year’s festival.
http://www.gaudimusic.com/main.htm
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Chris Murray & the New Victorians
 Chris Murray is a national treasure. While he currently lives in LA, he is perhaps best-known as frontman and lead vocalist of the now defunct Canadian ska giants known as King Apparatus. For almost two decades he has been touring the world as a solo artist and has become known as “The one man ska band”. His unique folk-ska sound mixes together classic ska and rocksteady with contemporary sensibilities. His set at this year’s Victoria Ska Festival promises to be one of his best yet, with a band made up of hand-picked musicians by Murray himself. In his own words “ska is all we need”.
http://www.chrismurray.net/
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Jon and Roy
 These homegrown musicians have no need for tricky electronics and feel most at ease unplugged, with nothing between them and their audiences. An eclectic blend of folk, funk, hip-hop and reggae with an island tinge.
http://jonandroy.ca/
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The Klaxon
 The Klaxon are from Bogota, Colombia and have been playing their unique brand of latin-reggae and ska for over 10 years. They successfully blend elements of cumbia and salsa to the modern reggae sound in order to keep the crowds dancing all night. Every year the Victoria BC Ska Society do their best to bring more and more international acts to the stage. The Klaxon are proud to present their international sounds for Victoria’s 12th Annual Ska Festival and want to put on a show that will keep the crowd asking for more.
http://www.koffo.net/klaxon.php
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Mama Pulpa
 Mama Pulpa have been performing their energetic ska, reggae, and Latin rock since 1996. Their latest album “Tocadiscos” does it’s best to emulate the sounds of vinyl that members of the group love so much. Coming from the south of Mexico City, Mama Pulpa have become known as a festival favourite and we brought them back just for you! Their happy and summertime style is a perfect fit for our beautiful island and we know they’ll have you dancing and moving from the top to the very last drop!
http://www.mamapulpa.com
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Giraffe Aftermath
 Giraffe Aftermath are a band that are sure to bring the positive vibrations with their dynamic blend of reggae, hip-hop, and surf. This Vancouver group has shared the stage with internationally renowned artists such as John Brown’s Body and Rootz Underground as well as local favourites like Rude City Riot and Brave New Waves. Known for their terrific and always exciting live show, this is one group to put on your ‘must-see’ list.
http://www.myspace.com/giraffeaftermath
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Kae Sun
 Kae Sun was born and raised in a musically supportive family in Ghana. Kae Sun’s influences range from church choirs and traditional folk chants to his father’s soul records. Now living in Ontario, Kae Sun has been able to smash musical boundaries and create a totally unique sound that mixes together elements of hip-hop, folk, reggae, and jazz. His stage show and performance is a cultural experience all it’s own. He has been featured at festivals all over the world and we are proud to bring him to our own.
www.kaesunmusic.com
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Natural Flavas
 Natural Flavas are one of Vancouver's finest purveyors of roots and reggae music. They have had the pleasure of backing up Tosh1 (son of Peter Tosh) and Errol Blackwood of Messenjah on live performances. They have also performed along side well-known reggae groups Inner Circle and Easy Star All-stars. Those in need of a reggae shakedown look no further. Members of this group have played with some of reggae and ska's top acts, including Alton Ellis. If the sum is more than the parts, this is one show to find your way to.
http://www.myspace.com/naturalflavasreggae
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Rocky Mountain Rebel Music
 A band of much aplomb, RMRM ignite the stage with their high-energy shows and melodic styling. their unique blend of reggae, ska, and world-beat is sure to stir up the crowd and bring them in to our ‘skankster’s paradise’. The band formed in Victoria, BC in 2008 and has evolved into a collective of 10 members across Canada. They have had the fortune to tour across the country to promote their debut self-titled album. The entire first pressing had sold out before they wrapped up their tour. This is one group that knows how to put on a show.
http://www.rmrm.ca/
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The Afterbeat
 The Afterbeat are Canada’s two-tone ska bandits and have been rocking the stage since 2000. They have performed at the Victoria Ska Festival twice before, and we are very excited to have them back. They have also shared their high-energy and punk-inspired shows with acts such as Bedouin Soundclash, Saint Alvia Cartel, and The Berrymores. Their recently released Self-titled EP has been spinning on stations across Canada and their passion for ska will make their live set unforgettable.
www.afterbeatonline.com
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Brave New Waves
 This is Vancouver Island reggae, through and through. Brave New Waves have been playing reggae and ska up and down this island since 2007 and show no signs of slowing down. There EP and album have been met with positive acclaim and have gone into many pressings. They have performed with Fishbone, Black Seeds, Jon and Roy, and many more. Brave New Waves are perhaps one of the island’s best reggae acts and put on a performance not to be missed.
http://www.myspace.com/bravenewwaves
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Everybody Left
 The group’s sound can be described as “sunshine with a lil’ rain”. Fitting then, that this ‘post-ska’ group have played shows all over Vancouver Island and have released there debut EP to much acclaim. The members of Everybody Left have done work with local hip-hop elite The Pocket Kings as well as with Reggae stars Rocky Mountain Rebel Music. They are perhaps one of the island’s most unique and dynamic acts, this is a show not to be missed.
http://everybodyleft.com/
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The Ivy League Brawlers
 The Ivy League Brawlers are a young Vancouver band that sport both a solid rhythm and a dazzling horn section. They cite equal influences coming across genres and from groups such as Streetlight Manifesto, NOFX, and even The Beatles. They have been playing shows around the region for a few years now and are ready to take their signature sound the the Victoria Ska Festival stage and get the crowd singing and clapping along.
http://www.myspace.com/ivyleaguebrawlers
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Bananafish Dance Orchestra
 This group is a funky reggae jazz dance party! Their high energy music and stage show sends listeners to the moon and back, and only in the best way possible. While they are one of the island's newer groups, they've got talent in spades. All members of this group have graduated from Vancouver Island University with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. Their talent shines onstage, making them one of the island’s top musical acts.
http://www.reverbnation.com/bananafishdanceorchestra
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The Resignators
 The Resignators are one of Australia's best ska-punk groups and have recently released their second album on Stomp records. They have played along side Los Kung Fu Monkeys, The Aggrolites, and The Creepshow. Their frenetic stage energy and punk spirit is truly memorable and will get you moving. They were one of the highlights of last year's festival, and we couldn't wait any longer to have them back for another round!
http://www.theresignators.com/
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Mobadass
 “I wanted to make music that would honour my Filipino-Canadian heritage, a project where I could mix reggae, electro-rock, dance, and soul…I’m just lucky that people ended up loving it!” says Earl Pereira, lead vocals and bass of Mobadass. If Earl’s name sounds familiar, perhaps it’s that he is a platinum recording artist and three-time Juno nominee with Wide Mouth Mason. Mobadass was started in 2004 and they have dubbed their sound as ‘Island Rock’. We simply cannot wait, then, to bring them to our own island.
http://www.mobadass.ca/
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Hillside Hooligans
 The Hillside Hooligans were born from the ashes of Victoria’s favourite reggae punks, One Drop. Not only does the group have years of performance experience between them, but are avid promoters of ska here on the island and abroad. They’ve been jamming, performing, and causing general mayhem for a few years and have recently finished work on their debut album. Expect their set to be full of raw punk energy, massive reggae rhythms, and beer-fuelled chaos.
http://hillsidehooligans.ca/
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The Novamatics
 The Novamatics have done more than prove their local roots by playing along regional favourites such as Los Furios, The Valuables, and The Elixxxirs. In April, 2011, they performed along side Dave Hillyard & The Rocksteady 7, an NYC ska-jazz group whose influence can be heard in The Novamatics. They also cite Chicago’s Westbound Train and Toronto’s own Chris Murray as an influence, and it isn’t hard to see how. An always dynamic horn section and infectious rhythm is only step one in their plan to get you skanking on the dance floor all night. This is one group of locals that you will not want to miss!
http://thenovamatics.com/
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Micro Bongo Soundsystem
 Micro Bongo Sound System is a fresh new live 3 piece band combining relentless driving brazilian rhythm with
deep pulsating electronic sounds, catering specifically to making people groove.
Some have described the sound as live Brazilian Tech House combined with Dancehall, Afrobeat and Dubstep.
Others have no idea what to call it. However you try to label them, Micro Bongo is hitting the scene hard
with a brand new sound, carefully moving the audience through a story inspired by modern technology
and ancient jungle wisdom.
Collectively the trio have over 65 years of experience performing music live with various influences
including: Jazz, Classical Indian, Flamenco, Heavy Metal/Rock, and Electronic
http://www.microbongo.com/
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The Fundamentals
 The Fundamentals are one of Montreal’s top up-and-coming ska bands. Despite having formed so recently in 2009, they’ve got their feet planted firmly in the roots of Jamaican ska, rocksteady, and reggae of the 1960s. They have performed at the 2010 Montreal Ska Festival and have shared the bill with acts such as Deal’s Gone Bad, Mustard Plug, and the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble.
http://thefundamentals.ca/
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