This Now_Series takes off to the Caribbean, the home of ska and reggae. A fantastic trip from Brussels to The Kempen and then via Los Angeles to Jamaica.

They've been active, with a varying line-up, since 1964 and yet The Skatalites remain - according to Billboard - 'Jamaica's supreme instrumental band'. The solid rock that survived many a ska-revival: there was the rise of the likes of Madness and The Specials, then the skacore of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and even No Doubt flirted thoroughly with ska. Without The Skatalites there would be no ska. Without ska there would be no reggae.
Officially established in 1964, The Skatalites used ska to create the soundtrack for an independent Jamaica. Barely 1 year later they ceased to exist, only to return to the road in 1983 with increasing success & following and new albums to record. As studio musicians they often recorded for Studio One, a label with an impact comparable with say Motown (for soul), Stax (for funk) and Blue Note (for jazz).

The Aggrolites, the masters of dirty reggae! Last year in November they earned the title 'best party in the ABClub' with a 2 hour (!)aftershow following Gogol Bordello. For those who love a raw soul and funk impregnated mixture of ska and reggae, that takes-off with the punk mentality unique to their (HellCat/Epitaph) label. Growing up with the best of James Brown, The Meters and Wilson Pickett, this fivesome met in Los Angeles around 2002. The band can thank its popularity especially to the many tours in which they played together with their Jamaican heroes Prince Buster and The Skatalites, ska veterans Madness and Hepcat or the punk outfit Dropkick Murphys.

The Moon Invaders are 8 young guys from Brussels with a common passion for the Jamaican music of the 60's & '70's: ska, rocksteady and a primal form of reggae that they cross-fertilized with dub, soul and rhythm & blues. Their vintage sound too carries that typical Studio One stamp, something that bands like The Slackers or our very own Internationals are also very strong in. Just see, they managed to get hold of Slackers frontman Vic Ruggiero as producer for their latest album 'Moovin' & Groovin'.

Campina Reggae? Their MySpace capitalizes 'strong and understandable' (vet en verstaanbaar) dutch language reggae. 'Vet en Verstaanbaar' is also the title of the debut from this new outfit based around Steven Van Gool. Indeed, that tall-as-the-treetops bassist who earned his stripes with Wawadadakwa and El Tattoo Del Tigre. So stirring, deep basslines also form the basis of catchy party-stompers like 'Ni Verzwakke (ge moet blijve goan!)' and 'Ouagadougou'. Exoticism from The Kempen to far over the borders. Vraiment chaud en bloody brilliant!

6:30 doors
7:00 Aggrolites (Main Hall)
8:15 Campina Reggae (Club)
9:00 The Skatalites (Main Hall)
10:30 The Moon Invaders (Club)