THE SKATALITES

We are thrilled to welcome the founding-fathers of ska, The Skatalites, to Future Yard on Sunday 30th June in an extra-special show in celebration of 60 years of their existence.

More than a band, the Skatalites are a musical institution, an aggregation of top-notch musicians who didn't merely define the sound of Jamaica, but were the sound of Jamaica in the 50s and '60s. Frequently credited as the originators of ska -- the musical mash-up of calypso, Caribbean mento, R&B, and rock & roll that pre-dated both reggae and rocksteady -- the Skatalites' various members came up through the nation's hotel bar scene of the late '50s, banding together as both an original group and the often uncredited backing band for artists and producers such as Prince Buster and Duke Reid.

Although the group officially existed in its original incarnation for less than 18 months between 1964 and 1965, its members brought their signature styles to hundreds of the island's releases. Following a handful of reunions in the '70s and early '80s, the Skatalites re-formed for good in 1986 and, over subsequent decades, have had a rotating lineup responsible for late-period highlights like 1994's Hi-Bop Ska and 2007's On the Right Track.

A version of the band continues to tour and record to this day, bringing to Birkenhead classic songs like "Guns of Navarone" and "Phoenix City," and an influence that has spread to everyone from the Clash and the Police to Sublime and No Doubt.