The Skatalites, a legendary band that ignited a Jamaican music craze called called Ska will be landing in Hong Kong for a live show on Tuesday, October 4th. The Skatalites highly influential sound shaped the direction of Jamaican music, and continued to influence popular music internationally for decades to come. Everyone from The Specials, to Sting and The Police, to American indie band No Doubt owe The Skatalites a debt.
A musical genre with a long history
The Skatalites original line-up was a supergroup of musicians, many of whom had Jazz backgrounds. Ska grew out of an experimental new sound that rearranged songs from diverse sources over a new type of driving beat. These adaptations included soundtrack themes from popular movies – Guns of Navarone, and the James Bond theme are two well known examples. Other sources of inspiration were Latin and Jazz cuts.
The innovative beat, and the masterful musicianship of the veteran players which included members on saxophone, trumpet, trombone, drums, bass, guitar, and piano were unlike anything people had heard before and proved to be wildly popular.
Although the original band was together less than two years, The Skatalites gave birth to a sound that would lay the groundwork for Reggae and heavily influence Pop music around the world.
As far as the history of Jamaican music goes, Ska was the pre-cursor to Rock Steady, which later evolved into Reggae. Many of the Skatalites were accomplished studio musicians who worked with the most influential producers of the time and backed the best musical talents in Jamaica.
The Skatalites Tuesday night concert takes place in Sai Wan Ho, on Hong Kong Island, and features a live show with a band of nine members including a singer. They’re going to need a big stage! This is the group’s only concert outside of Japan on this tour.
Opening for the Skatalites are the local Ska group The Red Stripes. The ten-member band specializes in Ska and has been growing in popularity.
For more information have a look at the Hong Kong International Reggae Festival page on Facebook, along with the event listing, which has additional details.
Recommended!
The Skatalites – Live in Hong Kong!
Supported by The Red Stripes
Tuesday, October 4th, 2016
The Hang Out – Youth Outreach Center
2 Holy Cross Path
Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong
(Sai Wan Ho MTR station Exit B)
Tickets are available at White Noise Records, or online via Eventbrite.
Limited Early Bird Tickets on sale now at $420 HKD 😉
Advance Tickets $450 HKD
Door Tickets $520 HKD
From 8pm til 11pm
