LOOPY Routes – Ska and Reggae

Heavy grooves a plenty with Bakra Beats playing the best in Boss Reggae, Soul and Ska music.

Fresh, unpredictable and irrepressibly danceable, this 10-piece big band effortlessly swerves genre definition with matador finesse.

You love Skaburts dontcha? Well, imagine if they decided to write their own songs – sounds pretty sweet, don’t it? Well, imagine no more, it’s HAPPENING at Loop. Simply magnificent ska/punk/rock.

Fan of skufflepunk? Not sure what skufflepunk is? Let Pigdaze educate you with their Clash/Skiffle/Ska bangers and marvel at their impeccable dress sense.

The Bosstones (ska overlords) described them as ‘Unbelievable!’ Well, we believe them. A righteous fury of punky thrills and two tone bounciness.

Zen Baseballbat have unmistakable shades of post-ska reggae simmering with new-wave riffs, rhythmical plinks and bowel-shaking rumbles.

The finest ska musicians from the ska mecca that is *checks notes* Bishops Castle (tbf, they do know their ska very well in this lil Shropshire creative hub). They’ll have you pogoing and bouncing till the moon falls.

Don Letts is the original punky reggae party starter — the dreadlocked DJ who flipped the script at The Roxy in ’77, introducing a whole generation of punks to the deep basslines of reggae.

These three lads make a big noise that is both soulful and riotous – reminiscent of Sublime and Rancid, but uniquely King’s Alias.

Not really ska, but if you’re on the ska scene you’ll know these two. 80s-influenced, shimmering keyboard riffs and electro drums bring to mind The Human League produced by Erasure. Get the lycra out and let’s pretend the 90s never happened.

What is it with Wales and their love of creating fantastically brilliant ska/punk bands? Packet Racket are one of the finest live acts on the scene today, tighter than Margaret Thatcher’s milk budget and more fun than you should be allowed standing up.

Inspired by two-tone and third wave ska – Last Edition blends infectious sax hooks, belting harmonies and an energetic hard-hitting sound, synonymous with the ska punk genre.

‘Brass-fuelled Bristolian Skapunk Raucus’ is how their own opinion of themselves, and who are we to argue? Well, we could add that they have a live show that will get you jumping in your docs and skanking like Lord Skanky.

With an up-tempo two-toned Ska-pop-punkish attack, Smoke like a Fish from Mid Wales relentlessly pump the offbeat with groove and aggression, behind brass splattered riffs, catchy choruses and social commentary.

It’s ska Jim, but not as we know it. Using two tone as a building block, our beloved Captain and his accidents fashion themselves a unique live show that will have you hollering in the aisles and dancing like you’ve already knocked back two pints of home grown scrumpy.

Punk influenced mod choons with a stage show that is both energetic and revitalising. The Spitfires bring old school 70s vibes with a backline that is tighter than a government endorsed winter payments scheme.