Upcoming Broadcasts

Greg Rekus, Brandon Leahy
@ Vinyl Envy
Thu. January 20th 20:00 - 22:00 doors at 19:30
$15
The unstoppable Greg Rekus is bringing his high energy, stomp-box-stopming folk-punk show to Victoria with an intimate small capacity show at Vinyl Envy.

Opening will be a rare solo acoustic set by Brandon Leahy of the Hillside Hooligans playing his songs in their original raw format.

Tickets are limited to allow distancing so get yours soon to avoid disappointment.

The Boom Booms, The Bankes Brothers, Xhalida, DJ Coldbeef
@ White Eagle Polish Hall
Fri. February 25th 7:30
$25 - 29.50 Advance
Garden City Grooves VIII kicks off with the return of one of the most legendarily groovy bands to come out of the west coast – THE BOOM BOOMS. The Boom Booms went on a long hiatus shortly after their last Victoria appearance at Victoria Ska & Reggae Fest XVIII in 2017. After a one off performance a short while ago, the band quickly rediscovered the shared love of performing that made them such a force to begin with. Come experience the pure, unadulterated musical joy of a Boom Booms show as they lay down their tender, groovy, lyrical-melodic music. As the band bounces between funk, soul, reggae, Latin and African influences, their audiences never know where they’re going to be led – but no matter where it is, there’s going to more than a reason to DANCE.

Just like the Boom Booms display a diversity of groove every time they take the stage, the rest of our opening night line up is set to get the dance floor moving with a deep variety of groove. Victoria’s own THE BANKES BROTHERS will be gracing our stage for the first time to gift us with their deeply soulful roots-rock. In just over four years, the Bankes Brothers have established themselves as one the city’s most consistent live acts and we’re excited to see what they’re gonna bring to Garden City Grooves. Also joining us for Night 1 is Vancouver-born singer XHALIDA. A multi-talented artist – singer, songwriter, activist – Xhalida’s music is imbued with vast chasms of feeling and empathy for the world around her, as her smooth grooves wrap around you like a warm blanket. Rounding out the night and keeping things spicy between sets is Fernwood’s Resident DJ and local legend DJ COLDBEEF, who will be bringing his sonic delights to keep our feet moving all night long.

Friday, February 25 @ White Eagle Hall (James Bay)
Doors: 7:30pm
All ages, proof of full vaccination required for entry, Beverage Service for 19+ w/ ID
Tickets available exclusively at ticketweb.ca

Fort Knox Five, Mark Woodyard, Blasé Blasé, Mo Moshiri, Grossbuster, Jennay Badger
@ White Eagle Polish Hall
Sat. February 26th 19:30
$25 - 29.95 advance
While the roots of modern groove lay in funk and soul, much of modern groove is tended to by DJs and electronic producers, and no one is doing more work in tending the groove garden than the mighty FORT KNOX FIVE. Garden City Grooves is very excited to welcome Fort Knox Five back to Victoria for the first time in over three years. From Washington, DC and recently relocated to Canadian west coast in BC, Fort Knox Five has remained at the vanguard of rhythm and groove since their inception nearly 20 years ago (2003). Through their label Fort Knox Recordings, their massively popular Funk The World mix series and their legendary appearances at some of the most important festivals in the electronic world – like Bass Coast, Shambhala, Burning Man, for example – FKF has long been established as one of the premier places to get deep grooves that are guaranteed to make your mouth smile and your ass shake.

As mighty as Fort Knox Five is, they won’t be coming alone as they’ll be joining forces with Vancouver’s “Human Jukebox” MARK WOODYARD for a very special headline performance. Armed with his guitar, his voice and loop machines, Woodyard is a talent unlike any other in the area and we can’t wait to see what groovy delights he and Steve of Fort Knox Five are going to conjure up. Garden City Grooves is very stoked to welcome BLASÉ BLASÉ to our stage for the first time. Comprised of members of some of Victoria’s most iconic acts, Blasé Blasé is making some seriously smooth and warm chilled-out hip-hop. The band has been hard at work during the pandemic creating new music and honing their live show, and they’re sure to be coming back out of the gates HOT.

Also on the bill is our long time friend and west coast hip-hop veteran MO MOSHIRI, who will be flanked by another friend of ours, GROSSBUSTER. An alumnus of iconic group Sweatshop Union, Moshiri has established himself outside of the group as an MC who always brings his best on the mic. His rhymes are thoughtful, deep and full of capital-L Love and his beats straddle the line between old-school and nu-school. Last, but certainly not least Garden City Grooves is so proud to finally welcome powerful JENNAY BADGER between the 1s and 2s. A Vancouver transplant that cut her teeth and established herself here on Vancouver Island, Jennay Badger has proven herself to be one of the most dynamic and forward-thinking DJs in the west coast game right now.

We seriously cannot wait to get SWEATY on the dancefloor with all of our groove-seeking friends for a serious Saturday night throw-down.

Saturday, February 26 @ White Eagle Hall (James Bay)
Doors: 7:30pm
All ages, proof of full vaccination required for entry, Beverage Service for 19+ w/ ID
Tickets $25 - $29.95, available exclusively at ticketweb.ca

The Soul Rebels, Gabriel Teodros, DJ Abel
@ White Eagle Polish Hall
Sun. February 27th 19:30
$25 - 29.95 advance
In honour of Black History Month and to celebrate the final presentation of Garden City Grooves, Victoria BC Ska & Reggae Society is extremely proud to welcome New Orleans brass champions, THE SOUL REBELS to Victoria for the first time. It’s been five years since The Soul Rebels have been to western Canada and we say that’s far too long! One of the most powerful brass bands to come out of the US in as long as we can remember, The Soul Rebels are a gold standard for live music in North America and beyond. The band bridges the gaps between classic brass band sounds, funk, soul and hip-hop. Through their collaborations with some of the biggest names in not just hip-hop, but music as a whole – like Lil Wayne, Wu-Tang Clan, Katy Perry, DMX, Nas, Portugal. The Man and Macy Gray, to name a few – the band has garnered attention and praise globally. No other band in music is doing it like The Soul Rebels. To listen to an album from The Soul Rebels or, more importantly, to catch the group live, is to be presented with a sound that reminds you of the past while pulling you forward into the future – all while making you groove and sweat on the dancefloor.

Joining The Soul Rebels for this very special closing night of Garden City Grooves VIII is veteran of the Seattle hip-hop scene, community organizer and KEXP host GABRIEL TEODROS. It’s been a long while since Teodros has been above the 49th parallel to lay down his deep, ultra-smooth conscious hip-hop and we’re very excited to see what our old friend has in store for his triumphant return to Victoria. We’re also excited to have DJ ABEL, one of Vancouver’s premier selectors, on hand to hold things down with his hard-hitting dancehall and hip-hop sounds. Come join us as we wrap up Garden City Grooves VIII in serious style.

Note: The Soul Rebels and Gabriel Teodros will be offering free workshops at White Eagle Hall in addition to their live performances. The Soul Rebels will be presenting their workshop earlier in the day, FREE (with proof of full vaccination) for anyone who wants to learn more about the band, their music and their influences. Gabriel Teodros’ free workshop will be announced in the coming weeks.

Sunday, February 27 @ White Eagle Hall (James Bay)
Doors: 7:30pm
All ages, proof of full vaccination required for entry, Beverage Service for 19+ w/ ID
Tickets available exclusively at ticketweb.ca

VICTORIA'S 23RD ANNUAL SKA & REGGAE FESTIVAL IS BACK JUNE 22 - 26, 2022!
@ Ship Point (Inner Harbour)
Wed. June 22nd 4pm
Let's all give 23 cheers for the fun we have to look forward to next summer in 2022!

Victoria BC Ska & Reggae Society is more than excited to announce that Victoria's 23rd Annual Ska & Reggae Festival will be taking place June 22 - 26, 2022 at Ship Point Inner Harbour and other venues throughout Victoria. We look forward to welcoming the world back to the festival and reuniting with some of our favourite regional, national and international artists. Get ready to enjoy more world class music, visual arts and food for five straight days and nights on the Island at the most beautiful venues in Canada.

Early Bird Full Festival Passes and VIP Tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks. We'll keep you updated when we put them on sale. Anyone that purchased tickets for the festival in 2020 will have them honoured next year.

Bands may apply through our website at skafest.ca. Just click on the contact tab and scroll down to "Artist Application." We will be looking at headlining and international acts first.

Once again we are excited to welcome the world back to Victoria's Annual Ska & Reggae Festival once again June 22 - 26, 2022. It's nice to have something fun to look forward to in these times.

VICTORIA'S 23RD ANNUAL SKA & REGGAE FESTIVAL IS BACK JUNE 22 - 26, 2022!
@ Ship Point (Inner Harbour)
Sun. June 26th - Wed. June 22nd 4pm - 10pm
Let's all give 23 cheers for the fun we have to look forward to next summer in 2022!

Victoria BC Ska & Reggae Society is more than excited to announce that Victoria's 23rd Annual Ska & Reggae Festival will be taking place June 22 - 26, 2022 at Ship Point Inner Harbour and other venues throughout Victoria. We look forward to welcoming the world back to the festival and reuniting with some of our favourite regional, national and international artists. Get ready to enjoy more world class music, visual arts and food for five straight days and nights on the Island at the most beautiful venues in Canada.

Early Bird Full Festival Passes and VIP Tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks. We'll keep you updated when we put them on sale. Anyone that purchased tickets for the festival in 2020 will have them honoured next year.

Bands may apply through our website at skafest.ca. Just click on the contact tab and scroll down to "Artist Application." We will be looking at headlining and international acts first.

Once again we are excited to welcome the world back to Victoria's Annual Ska & Reggae Festival once again June 22 - 26, 2022. It's nice to have something fun to look forward to in these times.

Past Broadcasts

Aug. 22, 2021

LIVE FROM THE SWAMP! (Day 2)

Featuring: The Capital Collective , Kirk Diamond, Jory Kinjo & the Relays (JK), Russian Tim & Pavel Bures



WATCH NOW
Tickets to Live from the Swamp August 21 & 22, 2021 are now available to general public. When you click the purchase link you will be asked if you are a member. If you're not, simply click the gold box that says

Aug. 21, 2021

LIVE FROM THE SWAMP!

Featuring: Def3, Caleb Hart & The Royal Youths, Phonosonics, Ollie Happyness



WATCH NOW
Tickets to Live from the Swamp August 21 & 22, 2021 are now available to general public. When you click on the purchase link you will be asked if you are a member. If you're not, simply click the gold box that says

Jul. 4, 2021

Live from the Crooked Gates (Day 2)

Featuring: The Della Kit fka Erica Dee, The New Groovement, Blackberry Wood, Blackwood Kings



WATCH NOW
Live from the Crooked Gates Day 2 will feature a mixture of soul/R&B, reggae, rag time and hip hop with bands from Victoria and Vancouver. We are pleased to welcome back The Della Kit (formerly known as Erica Dee) after her performance at Victoria's 20th Anniversary Ska & Reggae Festival. A 15 year veteran of BC's music scene Dee Landsberg has been a thriving musician, advocate for youth, producer of the infamous Shambhala Music Festival. For this stream Dee is excited to bring her band to represent her soul/R&B sound the best way she knows how. The New Groovement is our soul/R&B funk big band that has been bringing Victoria and region groove in all sorts of flavours for over 10 years. They have been part of our musical family for many years. Their last appearance with us was on Garden City Grooves Festival in 2019. We are excited to welcome them back. Blackberry Wood brings not just amazing ragtime music but also colour and personality to their sets. They have played at festivals throughout Canada and Europe including being a regular guest at Glastonbury. When you watch them don't expect them to stay in one place ;) Blackwood Kings have been our ska/reggae souljahs for the past decade playing on the Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival several times throughout their history and other memorable shows opening for international acts such as The Black Seeds, Gondwana and Macka B. They will be bringing ska and reggae to our music mix of wonder at the Crooked Gates. THE DELLA KIT FKA ERICA DEE http://livevictoria.com/artist/819960/view 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 ... http://livevictoria.com/thenewgroovement BLACKBERRY WOOD Alt-Country, Gypsy Circus http://livevictoria.com/blackberrywood BLACKWOOD KINGS Now five years into their lifespan, Blackwood Kings has proven to be one of the more unique bands to pop up in the Victoria BC scene. In spirit and ethos, they’re a punk band, but while contemporaries may lean towards buzz-saw-distorted guitars and shouted vocals, Blackwood Kings favour the reverb-laden upstrokes of ska and dub, producing a politically and emotionally charged brand of reggae fusion that is uniquely their own. And while the foundation of Blackwood Kings sound is comprised of th... http://livevictoria.com/blackwoodkings

Jul. 3, 2021

Live from the Crooked Gates!

Featuring: Five Alarm Funk, Jonnie 5 Brass Band, Kia Kadiri, Curtis Clear Sky and the Constellationz, Reflectionz



WATCH NOW
The coming of summer brings warmer, longer days and an opportunity to present new music from more beautiful outdoor locations on Vancouver Island. In the spirit of celebrating what would have been Victoria's 22nd Annual Ska & Reggae Festival, we're excited to bring you a premiere live stream experience from our Island oasis

Nov. 29, 2020

Garden City Grooves VII -Day 2

Featuring: Jonnie 5 Brass Band, Kia Kadiri, Nostic & Nicki, Sexweather



Let groove music flow and the good times continue with the seventh Garden City Grooves Festival! This year we will be celebrating groove music in all its flavours through live streamed performances from Studio Robazzo in Victoria. The final evening of Garden City Grooves VII will bring us some New Orleans style brass, funk, blues, soul and hip hop. Best of all Sunday's line up are musicians that all originate from Victoria! The music will be both conscious and entertaining. Notably, this performance will be the first time that hip hop/soul/R&B legend Kia Kadiri collaborates with Jonnie 5 Brass Band. JONNIE 5 BRASS BAND The Jonnie 5 Brass Band brings together 5 of the finest and funkiest wind players from Victoria's thriving scene of horn-heavy dance bands, drawing members from local favourite musical acts the New Groovement and Bucan Bucan. The Jonnie 5 stir up a tasty jambalaya of New Orleans-inspired Jazz, Funk, Rhythm & Blues and Soul that will satisfy all your cravings for musical input and make you feel alive! The Jonnie 5 Brass Band features Jonnie Bridgman on tenor and baritone sax, Julia Knight and Dav... http://livevictoria.com/jonnie5brassband KIA KADIRI Hip-Hop and Rap improvistational specialist M.C. Kia is a popular Guest with bands like Naked Ear, Solid 7, Rainshadow, and the Stir Fry Crew. http://livevictoria.com/kiakadiri NOSTIC & NICKI Nostic & Nicki’s live performance is a mixture of Hip-Hop, House, Latin & World Music combined with groundbreaking rhythms, conscious lyrics, and unique freestyle dancing, based in Victoria BC. The set often features live instruments including: harmonica, drumming, pan flute and other ancient Andean instruments and live looping, mixing original music. Nostic was raised in both Canada and Peru; he is a diversely talented artist sharing his gifts as a multilingual rapper, singer, beatboxer, ... http://livevictoria.com/nosticnicki SEXWEATHER Sexweather is a high-octane jukebox of original songs. Hailing from Victoria, British Columbia, the power trio shares the role of lead vocalist and songwriter between each member, producing a sound ranging from blues to indie, soul to hip hop and everything in between. http://livevictoria.com/sexweather

Nov. 28, 2020

Garden City Grooves VII - Day 1

Featuring: Kutapira, The Soul Motivators, Los Duendes, 1-UP Funk



Let groove music flow and the good times continue with the seventh Garden City Grooves Festival! This year we will be celebrating groove music in all its flavours through live streamed performances from Studio Robazzo in Victoria. In addition to our live streamed performances we'll have some other special remote performances and pre-recorded programming to show you from our vaults that has never been released! Musically the first day of Garden City Grooves will feature a mixture of Zimbabwean Marimba, Afro-Cuban & West African rhythms, hip hop and soul! We will be featuring two groups from Vancouver (Kutapira and Los Duendes) plus 1up Funk from Victoria and a special remote recording from The Soul Motivators in Toronto. Live streamed performances from Kutapira, Los Duendes and 1up Funk will air from 4:20pm - 8pm. The Soul Motivators remote performance will air around 8pm - 9pm. Note all times are approximate and subject to change. This event is free but we strongly encourage you to participate in the broadcast by sending us messages as it happens. Also share this broadcast to everyone you know before, during and after it happens and subscribe to the Victoria Ska & Reggae Society youtube channel. KUTAPIRA The Vancouver-based five-piece all-percussive ensemble, Kutapira, blend traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms with the melodies of Zimbabwean and West African folk and popular music. Kutapira can often be heard busking on the streets of downtown Vancouver, attracting a crowd with their frenzied high-energy brand of Afro groove. The members Jeremy Bryant, Kai Bouchan, Chris Couto, Sangito Bigelow and Theo Vincent can be seen shuffling around congas, djembes, timbales, Zimbabwean marimbas, and a drum kit... http://livevictoria.com/kutapira THE SOUL MOTIVATORS Finding the right groove means digging deep. With a love of vintage soul and funk, The Soul Motivators have mined their musicality to bring you a fresh revival of a retro sound. Featuring numerous veterans of Toronto’s thriving underground Funk scene, The Soul Motivators are a 9-piece, 3 horn deep funk explosion, with a rough, tough, and soulful flair that motivates people straight to the dance floor. Known for turning out some of the most energetic live funk performances witnessed in the ci... http://livevictoria.com/thesoulmotivators LOS DUENDES Los Duendes is Vancouver’s very own Psych Latin Fusion group! Infectious tropical rhythms intertwined with spicy Latin melodies designed to make people feel uplifted and groove. The term “Psych Cumbia” has found its place in Latin America as a way of referring to various different styles of tropical Latin American music. Los Duendes performs topicalized Andean guitar, Jazz, Cumbia, Salsa and Soulful House giving birth to a whole new danceable musical universe. Tener Duende loosely me... http://livevictoria.com/losduendes 1-UP FUNK 1up Funk, Nerdy Swag Wizards, 2 lyricists, Hook Shot and Bobby Arson. Hooky's on the beats, and Arson's on the cuts. Jazzy, Funky, Synth Heavy Nerdcore, from the West Coast of Canada. http://livevictoria.com/1upfunk

Nov. 6, 2020

Telecast #3

Featuring: FRASE, Blase Blase, The Doughboys ft. BRAINiac, Babyface Brass, Mo Moshiri, Grossbuster



Victoria Ska & Reggae Broadcast System is proud to feature fresh new video presentations from FRASE & FRNZ, Blasé Blasé with special guest Shane Battley, The Dough Boys ft. BRAINiac plus some of our favourite selections from Babyface Brass and Mo Moshiri w/Grossbuster from our last outdoor stream at the Swamp at the end of August 2020. For this broadcast we'll be diving into hip hop, soul, funk and R&B but with some reggae styles in there too. This broadcast is special because we've been sitting on a lot of this material since the late summer so we're excited to finally release it. We also figured we needed something to celebrate in these crazy times as we live through the pandemic this fall and approach the winter. We look forward to seeing you virtually on November 6th! FRASE With authenticity and lyrical finesse, FRASE's voice blends the classic sounds of Soul, Hip-Hop, Dub and pairs it with the modern production styles of House and Bass music. Since the debut EP “Daggers & Shields” in 2015, he has captured the hearts of music lovers around the world with a sound that is analog and soulful, yet pushes to the future with danceable beats. The most electronic act at Kalso Jazz Festival 2017, and one of the most live acts at Shambhala Electronic Music Festival 3... http://livevictoria.com/frase BLASE BLASE http://livevictoria.com/artist/798148/view THE DOUGHBOYS FT. BRAINIAC http://livevictoria.com/artist/798149/view BABYFACE BRASS http://livevictoria.com/babyfacebrass MO MOSHIRI Mo Moshiri is an MC, songwriter, and producer. He is perhaps best known as one of the founders of the legendary west coast hip-hop group Sweatshop Union. Together they recorded several albums, performed hundreds of shows, earned Juno nods and WCMA wins, and helped pave the path for the new generation of artists making waves on the coast and beyond. After a healthy hiatus, Mo is back from deep space and feeling rejuvenated. He wants to talk to YOU about everything! Or maybe just vibe. A def... http://livevictoria.com/artist/830928/view GROSSBUSTER After years of performing with touring bands, a solo project involving a midi controller and chopped up samples resulted in Grossbuster. He quickly joined the internet based beat collective Pragmatic Theory (UK) and played his first show in May 2013. In less than a year, Grossbuster has opened for Redman, Bun B, Jpod, Freestylers, Sweatshop Union, Stylust Beats, Ghettosocks, Marten Horger, Pigeon Hole, The Gaff, and many more in 2014, along with several BC festivals . 2015 will see this pad push... http://livevictoria.com/grossbuster

Sep. 10, 2020

Telecast #2

Featuring: Kingston Rudieska , Steele & the Hard Core Band , Dug Nugget, MAD RIDDIM



Get ready for Victoria Ska & Reggae Broadcast System's second telecast! This time we'll be bringing you ska and reggae from overseas, Eastern Canada and here on the west coast. Kingston Rudieska will be joining us with a special recording from Seoul, Korea. They played at Victoria's 19th Annual Ska & Reggae Festival in 2018. We are also excited to introduce two new bands to our musical family. The first is Steele & the Hard Core Band. Steele is one of the most talented reggae/r&b singers in Canada. He is originally from Jamaica but resides in Toronto and has done some amazing things. He is now getting more radio play in Jamaica and other parts of the world. Also Dug Nugget is another new band we are excited to present for the first time. They play a unique blend of folk using the stand up bass, banjo and amazing harmonies. They are a foot stompin ball of fun and we know you'll enjoy every minute of their set. Finally our friends Mad Riddim will be featured. No strangers to us Mad Riddim played at our first live stream a couple of months ago at High Ground Creative By Nature. We have chosen a couple of our favourite tracks from that set. This telecast will be broadcast live on our web site www.skafest.ca, Facebook live on the Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival/Society page and youtube.com/c/VictoriaSkaReggaeSociety Don't forget to subscribe to our youtube channel and like our Facebook page! Spread the good news! KINGSTON RUDIESKA For over 14 years, Korea's first traditional ska band, Kingston Rudieska has been paying homage to the classic sounds of Jamaica. A powerful example of ska music's truly global appeal, Kingston Rudieska is a 9-piece ska band, featuring a 4-piece horn section and the supple vocals of “Sugar” Lee Seok-yul. Heavily influenced by the legendary Skatalites, their sets are high-energy throwbacks that often feature songs from their musical heroes. Featuring more than a couple members with traditiona... http://livevictoria.com/artist/728037/view STEELE & THE HARD CORE BAND http://livevictoria.com/artist/793126/view DUG NUGGET Dug Nugget is a four piece acoustic band that calls Vancouver Island home. Their high energy, ruckus brand of folk music can range from traditional to unconventional. Guitar, stand-up bass, banjo, drums, and some wicked vocal harmonies drive gritty songs that tell tales of hard times, low-lives, and local lore with up-beat rhythms and a sense of humour. With a simple approach – all acoustic, no effects, no self-indulgent solos – their songs are fun, fast, and made to entertain. These a... http://livevictoria.com/dugnugget MAD RIDDIM Mad Riddim is a mash-up making, drum and bass led groove machine, mixing classic dub sensibilities with the attitude of funk and the improvisation of jazz. Formed in Vancouver BC by drummer Richard Brown a.k.a Rb Drums and bassist Matt Reid, Mad Riddim is founded on an intuitive musical connection and a shared vision of pushing the traditional boundaries of a rhythm section. http://livevictoria.com/madriddim

Aug. 30, 2020

LIVE STREAM FROM THE SWAMP - DAY 2!

Featuring: Downtown Mischief, Babyface Brass



Victoria Ska & Reggae Broadcast System is excited once again to bring you more great performances as we come closer to the end of this summer. This time we'll be bringing you a live stream from the Swamp on the lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ here on the Island featuring five acts over two days. Batuque Axe, Buckman Coe, Downtown Mischief, Babyface Brass and Mo Moshiri w/Grossbuster will be our guests of honour. The musical range of this next broadcast will feature Brazilian samba and capoeira, reggae, soul, funk, hip hop and jazz. Also as we presented last time we'll feature live painting as part of our broadcast. On Saturday, August 29th from 3:30pm - 7:30pm (approximately) we will be broadcasting Batuque Axe (Victoria), Buckman Coe (Vancouver) and Mo Shishi w/Grossbuster (Vancouver Island). Live painting will also featured. On Sunday, August 30th from 3:30pm - 6pm we will be streaming Downtown Mischief (Victoria) and Babyface Brass (Vancouver). The streams can be viewed on our web site www.victoriaskafest.ca, facebook, and youtube DOWNTOWN MISCHIEF Local bands, Boots of Mischief and DownTown HoeDown, joined forces and became Downtown Mischief. DTM has gone through numerous lineup changes over the past few years, refining their sound and tightening up their overall act along the way. Fronted by two MCs, a singer, and an explosive horn section, DTM blends elements of jazz, funk, and hip hop, meeting in the middle for an organic experience. Think Beastie Boys freestyling over Tower of Power. Most members are donned with a moniker, which seems... http://livevictoria.com/downtownmischief BABYFACE BRASS http://livevictoria.com/babyfacebrass

Aug. 29, 2020

LIVE STREAM FROM THE SWAMP!

Featuring: Batuque Axe! , Buckman Coe, Mo Moshiri, Grossbuster



Victoria Ska & Reggae Broadcast System is excited once again to bring you more great performances as we come closer to the end of this summer. This time we'll be bringing you a live stream from the Swamp on the lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ here on the Island featuring five acts over two days. Batuque Axe, Buckman Coe, Downtown Mischief, Babyface Brass and Mo Moshiri w/Grossbuster will be our guests of honour. The musical range of this next broadcast will feature Brazilian samba and capoeira, reggae, soul, funk, hip hop and jazz. Also as we presented last time we'll feature live painting as part of our broadcast. On Saturday, August 29th from 3:30pm - 7:30pm (approximately) we will be broadcasting Batuque Axe (Victoria), Buckman Coe (Vancouver) and Mo Shishi w/Grossbuster (Vancouver Island). Live painting by Kevan Hayward will also featured. On Sunday, August 30th from 3:30pm - 6pm we will be streaming Downtown Mischief (Victoria) and Babyface Brass (Vancouver). The streams can be viewed on our web site www.skafest.ca, facebook.com/victoria.ska.fest and youtube.com/c/VictoriaSkaReggaeSociety BATUQUE AXE! Axé Capoeira has lit up the stages of Folkfest and the Latin-Caribbean Festival over the years with driving rhythms, beautiful melodies and captivating performances of traditional Brazilian dances and the Afro-Brazilian martial-art, Capoeira. Performances offer a glimpse into the rich cultural world of Brazil with the participation of the group’s most renowned international stars. Here is a chance to get up close to the music, and get down to the beats of Brazil with tunes provided by Batu... http://livevictoria.com/batuqueaxe BUCKMAN COE Buckman Coe is one of the most interesting and captivating artists in Western Canada right now. London born and Edmonton raised, Coe has made his name with crafted, folksy reggae songs about love, life and the path of enlightenment. His journeys have led him to a degree in economics and geography, as well as studying psychology at Naropa University. These studies, combined with his worldwide travels and his life-long love of music has given him a unique prism through which to share his vision wi... http://livevictoria.com/buckmancoe MO MOSHIRI Mo Moshiri is an MC, songwriter, and producer. He is perhaps best known as one of the founders of the legendary west coast hip-hop group Sweatshop Union. Together they recorded several albums, performed hundreds of shows, earned Juno nods and WCMA wins, and helped pave the path for the new generation of artists making waves on the coast and beyond. After a healthy hiatus, Mo is back from deep space and feeling rejuvenated. He wants to talk to YOU about everything! Or maybe just vibe. A def... http://livevictoria.com/artist/830928/view GROSSBUSTER After years of performing with touring bands, a solo project involving a midi controller and chopped up samples resulted in Grossbuster. He quickly joined the internet based beat collective Pragmatic Theory (UK) and played his first show in May 2013. In less than a year, Grossbuster has opened for Redman, Bun B, Jpod, Freestylers, Sweatshop Union, Stylust Beats, Ghettosocks, Marten Horger, Pigeon Hole, The Gaff, and many more in 2014, along with several BC festivals . 2015 will see this pad push... http://livevictoria.com/grossbuster

Aug. 14, 2020

Telecast #1

Featuring: The Slackers, THE STEADIES , The Capital Collective



Join us for Victoria Ska & Reggae Broadcast System's first telecast on Friday, August 14th at 7pm PST. We'll have exclusive performances by The Slackers (NY), The Steadies (Saskatchewan) and our favourite choices from The Capital Collective's performance at High Ground Creative by Nature. THE SLACKERS Reigning from Brooklyn NY, The Slackers have been playing their trademark brand ska and rocksteady music since the early ’90s. With a vast collection of albums, The Slackers show no sign of slowing down. They have played over 2000 concerts in 32 different countries. Bandleader Vic Ruggiero calls The Slackers’ sound “jamaican rock n’ roll” with influences ranging from Bob Dylan to The Skatalites. These guys keep it real by combining punk attitude, soulful vocals, and traditional ska ... http://livevictoria.com/theslackers THE STEADIES The band you’ve known as Mobadass is now known as The Steadies! Same great band, same wicked style, but poppa’s got a brand new name. The Steadies take the explosively popular Top 40 sound and mix it with rocksteady and reggae influences, creating what they’ve dubbed, “island rock.” No matter your mood, The Steadies pick you up and carry you to the beach in your mind, the club in your dreams, the place you go to clear your head and dance. It’s a scene where rumbling fault lines ri... http://livevictoria.com/thesteadies THE CAPITAL COLLECTIVE To help Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival commemorate 20 years of building true musical community here on the west coast, players from some of the area's favourite bands, past and present – Dope Soda, Leg-Up Program, Lovecoast, Astrocolor, Jon & Roy, Bananafish Dance Orchestra and more – are joining together to bask in their collective love for the ska music that originally brought us all together. With 15+ players on stage, you can expect a huge sound as this special ska orchestra plays famili... http://livevictoria.com/thecapitalcollective

Jul. 5, 2020

High Ground Sessions Day 2

Featuring: The Capital Collective , Ganjo Man, Gisto



WELCOME TO THE VICTORIA SKA REGGAE BROADCAST SYSTEM! When the going gets tough, the tough get BROADCASTING! Today Victoria Ska and Reggae Festival / Society is proud to welcome our Ska & Reggae family worldwide to the Victoria Ska Reggae Broadcast System (VSRBS). The new Victoria Ska Reggae Broadcast System will be connecting you with programming that will bring you joy this summer. Over the coming months the VSRBS will be recording and streaming performances, interviews and visual arts from various spaces and places throughout British Columbia and beyond. Much of the coverage will be with our homegrown talent right here in BC but we’ll also have some other exciting guests mixed in there too. On Saturday, July 4th and Sunday, July 5th between 3:30pm and 6:15pm (approximately) we will be inviting you to experience our first broadcast taping live from High Ground Creative by Nature on the lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ here on the Island. The streams can be viewed on our web site www.victoriaskafest.ca, Facebook, and Instagram. On Saturday, July 4th we will be live streaming Victoria’s Apex Breaks and Vancouver’s Mad Riddim. On Sunday, July 5th we will be streaming The Capital Collective, Ganjo Man (formerly Ganjo Bassman) and Gisto. Victoria Ska Reggae Broadcast System is excited to bring you these live streams for the first time and we look forward to you joining us. These streamed performances will be recorded and used in a comprehensive program that will include more bands, interviews and visual arts from our family in the coming weeks. Get a behind the scenes look at the first broadcast for the VSRBS and see how we bring all the music and coverage together into a complete program! THE CAPITAL COLLECTIVE To help Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival commemorate 20 years of building true musical community here on the west coast, players from some of the area's favourite bands, past and present – Dope Soda, Leg-Up Program, Lovecoast, Astrocolor, Jon & Roy, Bananafish Dance Orchestra and more – are joining together to bask in their collective love for the ska music that originally brought us all together. With 15+ players on stage, you can expect a huge sound as this special ska orchestra plays famili... http://livevictoria.com/thecapitalcollective GANJO MAN http://livevictoria.com/artist/788687/view GISTO http://livevictoria.com/gisto

Jul. 4, 2020

High Ground Sessions Day 1

Featuring: MAD RIDDIM, Apex Breaks



WELCOME TO THE VICTORIA SKA REGGAE BROADCAST SYSTEM! When the going gets tough, the tough get BROADCASTING! Today Victoria Ska and Reggae Festival / Society is proud to welcome our Ska & Reggae family worldwide to the Victoria Ska Reggae Broadcast System (VSRBS). The new Victoria Ska Reggae Broadcast System will be connecting you with programming that will bring you joy this summer. Over the coming months the VSRBS will be recording and streaming performances, interviews and visual arts from various spaces and places throughout British Columbia and beyond. Much of the coverage will be with our homegrown talent right here in BC but we’ll also have some other exciting guests mixed in there too. On Saturday, July 4th and Sunday, July 5th between 3:30pm and 6:15pm (approximately) we will be inviting you to experience our first broadcast taping live from High Ground Creative by Nature on the lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ here on the Island. The streams can be viewed on our web site www.victoriaskafest.ca, Facebook, and Instagram. On Saturday, July 4th we will be live streaming Victoria’s Apex Breaks and Vancouver’s Mad Riddim. On Sunday, July 5th we will be streaming The Capital Collective, Ganjo Man (formerly Ganjo Bassman) and Gisto. Victoria Ska Reggae Broadcast System is excited to bring you these live streams for the first time and we look forward to you joining us. These streamed performances will be recorded and used in a comprehensive program that will include more bands, interviews and visual arts from our family in the coming weeks. Get a behind the scenes look at the first broadcast for the VSRBS and see how we bring all the music and coverage together into a complete program! MAD RIDDIM Mad Riddim is a mash-up making, drum and bass led groove machine, mixing classic dub sensibilities with the attitude of funk and the improvisation of jazz. Formed in Vancouver BC by drummer Richard Brown a.k.a Rb Drums and bassist Matt Reid, Mad Riddim is founded on an intuitive musical connection and a shared vision of pushing the traditional boundaries of a rhythm section. http://livevictoria.com/madriddim APEX BREAKS Victoria's APEX BREAKS is an 8-piece psychedelic jungle-funk monster that has wasted no time in establishing themselves as one of the city's most powerful group of (Incredibly talented) weirdos. A veritable super-group of Victoria musicians the band boasts members from Rocky Mountain Rebel Music, Crude Cultura, Zoubi & the Sea, Ashley Wey Trio, Nefidovs and Warriors for Peace. http://livevictoria.com/apexbreaks

Jun. 21, 2019

Sister Nancy Interview

Featuring: Sister Nancy



WATCH NOW
SISTER NANCY Sister Nancy, aka Muma Nancy, real name Ophlin Russell-Myers, (born Ophlin Russell, 2 January 1962, Kingston, Jamaica) is a dancehall DJ and singer. She is known to the world as the first female dancehall DJ and was described as being a

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Thu Jan 20th Greg Rekus, Brandon Leahy @ Vinyl Envy Victoria BC Get Tickets
Fri Feb 25th The Boom Booms, The Bankes Brothers, Xhalida, DJ Coldbeef @ White Eagle Polish Hall Victoria BC Get Tickets
Sat Feb 26th Fort Knox Five, Mark Woodyard, Blasé Blasé, Mo Moshiri, Grossbuster, Jennay Badger @ White Eagle Polish Hall Victoria BC Get Tickets
Sun Feb 27th The Soul Rebels, Gabriel Teodros, DJ Abel @ White Eagle Polish Hall Victoria BC Get Tickets
Wed Jun 22nd VICTORIA'S 23RD ANNUAL SKA & REGGAE FESTIVAL IS BACK JUNE 22 - 26, 2022! @ Ship Point (Inner Harbour) Victoria BC Get Tickets
Sun Jun 26th VICTORIA'S 23RD ANNUAL SKA & REGGAE FESTIVAL IS BACK JUNE 22 - 26, 2022! @ Ship Point (Inner Harbour) Victoria BC Get Tickets