Bananafish Dance Orchestra

Bananafish Dance Orchestra is a 7-piece powerhouse groove sensation. All members of the band are enrolled or have already graduated from Nanaimo’s VIU with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. They will be playing some of their favourite material from influences such as Lettuce, The Cat Empire, Sergeant Garcia and more. Niall Harvey lead vocals/percussion, Phil Hamlin trumpet, Ron Gaucher tenor saxophone, Dave Lawson baritone saxophone, Duncan Symonds guitar/percussion/vocals, Nic Sheasgrean b...
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Blitz the Ambassador

A blindingly bright clarity drives Blitz the Ambassador. With a spot-on sense of flow, he name-checks Basquiat and Lumumba, evokes lovelorn sighs on Accra Buses, emigre alienation, history’s shadows. All set to swirls of brass, distorted guitars, and the crackle and pop of old amplifiers. With a lightning-fast mind, the political boldness of Chuck D, and the sixth groove sense of Fela Kuti, the Ghanaian-born, New York-based MC, composer, and producer unleashes psychedelic Afrobeat colors and...
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bocce avocado

Bocce Avocado is an experimental musical project that incorporates hip-hop, world and funk into a marvellous, rum-injected, splendid, danceable iration that is spawned from the musical creativity of those in the vicinity of the Avocado members.
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Chicago Afrobeat Project

This band can’t stand still! While this group stays true to the genre of afrobeat, but perform their music with the intensity of Chicago’s rich musical history. Their inclusion of reggae, jazz, and big beat into their style has kept them fresh and on top of Chicago’s music scene. They’ve performed with members of the Antibalas and in the past with artists such as Bill Kreutzman of the Grateful Dead, Jeff Parker of Tortoise, Steve Kimmock, and many others.
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David Hillyard & the Rocksteady 7

Tenor and soprano saxophonist, David Hillyard is one of the innovators of the American ska scene. His group, the Rocksteady 7, mixes instrumental Jamaican “roots” rhythms ala the Skatalites, Burning Spear, and extended jazz improvisation ala David Murray, Charlie Haden, and Pharaoh Saunders.

His forthcoming cd, Get Back UP!, is a blinding tour de force of his Jamaican Jazz conception. The title track evokes the power of Coltrane's Love Supreme and is a screaming triumph over adversity. T...
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Dope Soda

Dope Soda
thirsty. Thirsty for music that is both dangerous and danceable, refreshing as a mojito and as eye-opening as a whiskey sour. A cocktail party mix of reggae, punk rock, jazz, hiphop, and ska. This is Dope Soda.
Dope Soda formed in late 2011, a fresh concoction of six of the top jazz, rock, and Jamaican-music-inspired musicians from Vancouver Island, with membership in acts such as Current Swell, Rocky Mountain Rebel Music, The Bananafish Dance Orchestra, The Kiltlifters, and Kings Wi...
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DUB FX

Dub FX (real name Benjamin Stanford) is a worldwide street performer and studio recording artist from St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia.[1] After playing and singing in a band called Twitch, he set out solo when he moved to Europe. His trademark is creating rich live music using only his own performance aided by Live looping and effect pedals combined with his voice.[ He creates intricate hip hop, reggae and drum and bass rhythms

DUB FX travels and performs with his fiancée, Flower Fairy. Dub F...
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Freak Motif

This Calgary party machine is never gonna stop! Freak Motif are an 8-piece band that fuses together the best elements of soul, funk, and hip-hop and turns them into one solid beast of musical aplomb. They’ve played the Calgary Improv Festival, house parties, and street festivals. They’ve taken influences from groups such as The Meters, Phish, and Lee “Scratch” Perry and will deliver an amazing performance.
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Giraffe Aftermath

Giraffe Aftermath is keeping dub reggae and hip-hop alive and well in Van-city!
Biography
Building on the traditions of reggae and dub music, Vancouver's Giraffe Aftermath use hip-hop rhythms and a psychedelic approach to create a unique blend of lively, danceable music.
Formed in 2006 by Steve Hackenbruch and Luke de Villiers, this songwriting/production duo remains the core of the band's music. Joined on stage by Paul Steffes and a revolving cast of peripheral players, Giraffe Aftermath t...
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Hillside Hooligans

The Hillside Hooligans play gritty and soulful reggae, ska and punk-rock. Their style is characterized by honest lyrics, prominent solos, and plenty of style and tempo changes to keep things interesting.

The four founding members played together in Victoria’s reggae/punk favorites One Drop for over 6 years before starting this new project with a fresh batch of songs. They are joined by other vetrans of the Victoria ska & reggae scene to fill out their 7 piece lineup.

The name HIllside...
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J BOOG & HOT RAIN

J Boog is a man of many influences. The singer of Samoan descent was born in Long Beach and raised in Compton, California. Growing up in the rough streets of Compton, the strong sense of tradition and culture that J Boog absorbed from his family was instrumental in his path to stay off the streets and begin a successful music career.

At the age of four, after hearing his older sister playing the piano, he developed an interest and started watching her and learning about music. Soon, J was sin...
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J.K. & The Relays

JK & The Relays are one of Canada’s newest ska groups, but have already made quite the name for themselves. The group features pas members of The Planet Smashers as well as Mocking Shadows. In 2012 they were on the bill for the Montreal Ska Festival. They’ve set dance floors on fire having opened for acts like The Slackers, Fishbone, and The English Beat.
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Jon Middleton

Acoustic folky reggae w/ a twist of hip-hop
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KATCHAFIRE

Katchafire is New Zealand’s Premier Reggae Band. Since 2002 they have recorded three full length albums, a dub remix album and a Live CD. With years of touring under their belt, the band is constantly in huge demand in New Zealand, Hawaii, Australia and around the world.


They present an infusion of the roots reggae lineage with an undeniably Maori sound.

From humble beginnings ‘jamming’ in a garage, Katchafire is a melting pot of unique members, including two generations of one f...
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Los Furios

Los Furios are a local vancouver 6 piece that blends ska, punk and rocksteady (among others) to bring you the best energy and fun you can have at a show. With the energy of punk and their blend of ska , you won't be able to keep yourself from movin' to the beat!!



Album "Warning Shot" Available
here
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Mad Caddies

Mad Caddies are a 7 piece reggae and dixieland jazz influenced softcore punk-rock band from Santa Barbara, California. Having played on countless tours with almost any punk band you can think of the Mad Caddies are in the cream of the crop for new school punk bands.


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Planet Smashers

The Planet Smashers rank among North America's premier ska bands. Their repertoire of original tunes and energetic stage shows have catapulted them into the forefront of the underground music scene in Canada. A concert favorite from coast to coast, they regularly play to capacity crowds that number in the thousands. Their first three records have sold over 40,000 copies.

The band formed in Montreal, Canada in 1994. An audience favorite from the very beginning, the Planet Smashers have always ...
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Rocky Mountain Rebel Music

"Rocky Mountain Rebel Music is a musical party on a rampage. A juggernaut that is one part ska/reggae band and one part funk-rock, all with the Take-No-Prisoners/DIY ethic of punk rock and a slight Latin flavour. At 9 members strong, RMRM brings an onslaught of vocalists, guitars, keys, horns and percussion to the table."
The Zone 91.3FM.

What started as a basement experiment in 2008 has evolved into the 9-piece ska-funk orchestra known as RMRM. They are known to incite riots on the dan...
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Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars are a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the transcendent power of music. Born in the midst of a violent, decade-long civil war, the band and its music celebrate our ability to sustain hope, inspiration and creativity even in a climate of rage, loss and madness.

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars are comprised of musicians who lived for years as refugees in the West African nation of Guinea. Before having to flee their country, all of the members of t...
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Suburban Legends

Suburban Legends are one of ska’s 3rd-wave legends. Their bright and poppy sound match perfectly with their catchy tunes and choreographed moves onstage. They’ve been blasting out their signature sound since 1998 and have toured with acts like Reel Big Fish, Bowling for Soup, and Goldfinger. they’ve covered the likes of Jackson 5, Oingo Boingo, and have a selection of Disney songs that are sure to get the crowd moving and singing along.
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Sweet Leaf

Reggae/ska/dub Funk/R&B from Victoria BC
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TANYA STEPHENS

Tanya Stephens is that rare outta order gal pickney who’s proved to the dancehall frat that she’s meant for more than decorating men’s rhymes with smooth background harmonies. Gangsta Blues, Tanya’s fifth CD (VP Records), is raw, rebellious, and authentic, confirming her position at the top of the dancehall game with a vivid display of her wide-ranging musical imagination and keen wordplay. Whether spouting hardcore racy rhymes, insightful political statements, or crooning heart-tugging ...
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The Chantrelles

The Chantrelles are Victoria's own Soulful Seven. They are a group of musicians who are dead serious about getting fingers snapping and hips gyrating. They practice the ancient art of Soul Music, and they're damned good at it. They're not some common hit-parading bar band, though; they write their own hits, melting together their favourite records 'til something uniquely Chantrelles is produced.
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The Debonaires

The Debonaires incorporate soul, jazz and funk while remaining ever faithful to the Jamaican sounds of ska, rocksteady and reggae music. Born out of Riverside, California in 1995, the nine musicians currently reside throughout the state. Built of a rough rhythm section, dynamic horn section, and vocalist, the Debonaires have shared the stage with reggae legends The Skatalites, Laurel Aitken, Justin Hinds and Phyllis Dillon as well as newer acts Hepcat, the Specials, The Toasters, Lit and Fishbon...
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The New Groovement

The New Groovement is an eleven-piece funk machine that blends elements of R&B, soul, and hip hop to create a funk-i-fied feast for the ears. If James Brown and Run DMC had a love child this would be it. The band’s sound is as unique as it is versatile with its punchy horns, sweet vocals, clever rhymes, and tight percussion. Combined with an energetic stage presence, this band will make you shake everything you got!

NGM has been actively playing packed shows at popular venues such as Canoe ...
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The Ponderosas

The Ponderosas take soul, r&b,reggae, and blend together in a musical blender until they’ve got everyone in the crowd moving and grooving to their festive and lively rhythms. this Vancouver eight-piece have worked with groups such as Natural Flavas, The Boom Booms, and Rude City Riot. Their infectious music is sure to start a dance party throughout the festival grounds and all who check this group out are sure to become instant fans.
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The Resignators

It’s the upbeat from down under: The Resignators have arrived from the shores of Australia to drop a kablammin’ set of rock-reggae-ska on Van Isle. The band played a string of North American shows early in 2009, including the SXSW showcase festival in Austin, Texas, and had local music fans raving about their fun psycho-ska performance. Then in 2010 The Resignators played at Victoria's 11th Annual Ska Festival to alongside Mexico's Los Kung Fu Monkeys. Get ready for their return to Victoria'...
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The Revivers

The Revivers are a California group that plays ska and reggae in the spirit of the classic Studio One and Trojan recording artists. This group of ska veterans includes members of The Debonaires as well as The Skeletons. Though reformed in 2009, they’ve already played with such legends as Michael Rose, The Mighty Diamonds, and Eric “Monty” Morris. Those looking for some classic ska and reggae need look no further than The Revivers.
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The Sentiments

Portland, Oregon’s The Sentiments play soulful ska, reggae, and rocksteady. The group features members of Easy Big Fella, Cornerstone, and Franceska. The group has been lucky enough to play alongside such ska legends as The Slackers, The Melodians, and Fishbone. They’re sure to get the crowd moving on the dancefloor and make ska fans out of anyone in earshot. Be sure to check this group out, because they won’t be holding anything back!
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Yasiin Bey aka MOS DEF

Yasiin Bey AKA Mos Def is an award winning MC and actor who is one of this generation’s most important artists. Bey’s groundbreaking musical work with Black Star and his own solo output is astonishing. With over 7 Grammy nominations to his name, Bey has left his mark on the industry. Bey’s work in film is equally notable. From his work in Spike Lee’s Bamboozled to his three nominations for his portrayal of Vivien Thomas in Something the Lord Made, Bey has been just has extended his talen...
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