“Ska is Cool” But I’ll warn you now it’s infectious!
Listening to a 2tone ska band may cause sudden outbursts of Joy Happiness, Energy, Creativity, Awareness & Spontaneous Healing! Handle at your own risk!
Made up of Guitar, Saxophone, Trumpet, Bass, Drums and Vocal, the ska band sound actually originated in the late 1950’s in Jamaica, becoming the backbone for both the rocksteady and reggae sound but Ska came first.
At it’s core the Ska sound is basically a combination of Calypso, Jazz, Rhythm and Blues. If you enjoy your traditional Jazz, Reggae or Rhythm and Blues bands you’re guaranteed to want to get down and skank to Ska.
Most people think they’ve never listened to Ska, while others think its just punk with horns. In fact, quite a few of you have tapped your toes to a Ska band without even knowing it. The rhythmic pattern and unique up beat is what truly defines it.
How to dance (skank) to ska?
Step 1: Stand with your feet one or two feet apart. Your right foot should be slightly further forward than the left. You should shift your weight from your right leg to your left as you twist.
Step 2: Hold your arms away from the body, slightly bend at the elbows. The arms help to twist your body side to side.
Step 3: Just as you unscrew a bottle cap, twist your waist, hips and legs from left to right. Keep your arms stationary and move on the balls of your feet.
Step 4: As you twist, lean your body forward towards the front leg and then bend backwards shifting your weight on the back leg, as you continue to twist.
Step 5: Squat to the dance floor as you twist and move back up. You can twist with different speed and intensity, according to the music. You can also jump in the air slightly, and bend one leg to add style.
Want to have a listen?
Check out some of these amazing ska bands: The blues Busters, The Paragons, Jimmy cliff, Desmond Dekker, Madness, The Selector, Two Tone, The Specials, The Beat, The Rudiments, No Doubt? The list is endless.
Or……..
Fancy something LIVE?
On Saturday March 11th at 7:30pm Last Train to Skaville are performing at The New Tyke Bar Diner & Entertainment venue. This is going to be a MASSIVE evening of SKA, SOUL, REGGAE, ROCKSTEADY and MOTOWN.
A Bradford event you will love…
All aboard the Last Train to Skaville! Leaving Kingston, Jamaica 1963 arriving in Coventry 1979. From Studio 1 to 2 Tone, join us on the musical journey of ska! Led by frontman Sam Thornton, this fantastic 9-piece band will play all the ska hits from The Skatalites, Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals and Prince Buster through to Bad Manners, Madness and the Specials.
Last Train to Skaville has already thrilled sold-out audiences in theatres and at festivals, provoked many fond memories and had everyone up dancing! This 9-piece ensemble of professional singers and musicians combines high energy performances with dazzling musical professionalism.
“Last Train to Skaville was the perfect act for our Freedom Festival, keeping the huge crowd spellbound at their musical ability and showmanship, whilst also satisfying the dance fans with a high energy display. No mean feat. I heartily recommend them!”
David Porter, Hull Jazz Festival