Victoria Ska & Reggae Fest Day One: Canada Day Kick-Off Party – Sugar Nightclub

While there will be colourful explosions across the skies of downtown Victoria this Canada Day, the Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival is thrilled to showcase some fireworks of our own.

Four BC bands with four different styles; Mindil Beach, Kutapira, Downtown Mischief, & SweetLeaf; are joining together for Victoria's hottest Canada Day party.

Mindil Beach is an alternative rock band whose flexible style also borrows from reggae, hip-hop, funk, and folk. Their ability to bend and twist the rock genre into other forms has allowed these cats to share the stage with acts as diverse as Bedouin Soundclash, The Original Wailers, USS, and Sam Roberts. Their past performances at Sugar have been nothing short of exemplary, and this Canada Day party should prove no different.

Kutapira is a Vancouver-based five-piece all-percussive ensemble that blends 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.

Downtown Mischief is a Victoria-based hip-hop group whose live instrumentation incorporates funk, soul, and jazz fusion influences. Born in the jam parties of Victoria’s jazz and hip-hop scenes, these guys can rip it. Think Tower of Power meets Beastie Boys. Yup, it's a riot.

This packed evening is rounded out by SweetLeaf, Victoria's hardest-working (and hardest-partying) ska band. These guys have shared the stage with favourites of the genre such as The Slackers, The Aggrolites, and The Mad Caddies, and will be making their third consecutive festival appearance. Make sure you come out early to see why we keep bringing 'em back.

Local selecta DJ Anger will be spinning between acts.