THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL SKA FESTIVAL
21-24 April 2011 @ The Clapham Grand Theatre, St.Johns Hill, Clapham Junction, London, SW11 1TT, UK.

THE LONDON INTL SKA FESTIVAL promises 37 bands & DJs from 11 countries over 4 days, showcasing all SKA has to offer from it’s roots in American Rhythm & Blues, to the Jamaican originators, the progression into rocksteady & reggae, 2 Tone & right uptodate with 21st century ska sounds. Headliners include Jamaican legends Ken Boothe, famed for his UK No.1 hit ‘Everything I Own’, one of reggae’s most influential singer/songwriters Bob Andy, who will be teaming up once again with the ‘Queen of Reggae’ Maric Griffiths for a UK exclusive. Their chart topping duets as Bob & Marcia included ‘Young Gifted & Black’ & ‘Pied Piper’. Reuniting for the first time since the 1970′s we have Dave & Ansel Collins, who will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of their UK No.1 ‘Double Barrel’.

From the 2 Tone era we have The English Beat, starring Dave Wakeling… the lead singer & songwriter of The Beat (or The English Beat as they’re known in the USA, where he now lives & tours). Expect their classic top 10 UK hits ‘Mirror In The Bathroom’, ‘Too Nice To Talk To’, ‘Hands Off She’s Mine’, their 2 Tone single ‘Tears Of A Clown’ and new material in this rare UK appearance.

We have Grammy nominated sensation James Hunter, rightly described by Van Morrison as “one of the best voices in British R’n’B and Soul” and from Japan, playing their only European show, a band to rival The Skatalites, The Ska Flames. We have Sunday Best’s dancefloor killers, the Dub Pistols, Gaelic Ska adventurers The Trojans plus 2 bands that played the original London Intl Ska Festival reforming for one offs; The Loafers and Hotknives. From Italy, a band that has released 6 gold selling albums, the highly stylised Giuliano Palma & The Bluebeaters. We have an exclusive show from the mighty US ska champions Bim Skala Bim, plus UK stalwarts Maroon Town, Intensified and The Amphetameanies.

Added to all this is a stella line up of DJs, from club specialists to band cameos, radio disc jockeys to JA legends, including Clive Chin, boss of Jamaica’s vital Randys Records, celebrating the labels 50th anniversary, Lynval Golding (The Specials), Mark Lamarr, Gaz Mayall (Gazs Rockin Blues), Rhoda Dakar (Bodysnatchers/Special AKA) and many more.

From it’s birth in Jamaica, Ska has come along way, morphing and inspiring every generation and reaching all corners of the world. Having promoted the first ever London Intl Ska Festival back in Dec’88, we are delighted to once again be celebrating the wonderful world of SKA in all it’s colourful guises.

For more information/tickets go to www.londoninternationalskafestival.co.uk