Frequently credited as the originators of ska, The Skatalites are set to return to Ireland with shows in Dublin, Cork and Limerick as they mark the 55th anniversary of the band. Having played main stage slots at Electric Picnic and Beatyard in the last two years, these shows will be the band’s first headline shows in Ireland in some time and are not to be missed. Tickets go on sale this Friday 19 April at 9am from (http://bit.ly/Skatal_SM) and Ticketbooth (www.ticketbooth.eu).

The original members of The Skatalites had played on hundreds of recording sessions before forming the band in 1964. They backed most of the vocalists in Jamaica at that time, including Bob Marley, Toots and The Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe and many more.

After disbanding in 1965 the individual members continued playing in various groups as the music evolved from ska to rocksteady to reggae. In the late 70's a resurgence of interest in the music began in the U.K. which caused the creation of many bands such as The Specials, The English Beat, Madness, The Selecter and Bad Manners. This became known as the "Two-Tone era" and these British musicians fused rock music with the ska and reggae.

In the early '80s the music started to spread to The U.S.A and other parts of the world and bands began to emerge everywhere playing different flavours of ska and reggae fused with whatever else they wanted to throw in, including hardcore, jazz and even punk. In 1983 The Skatalites reunited to play Reggae Sunsplash in Montego Bay and subsequently in London at The Crystal Palace for the U.K version of the Sunsplash event.

A few years later they began emigrating to the U.S.A and in 1986 the first US shows began at The Village Gate in NYC. In 1989 the band supported Bunny Wailer on The Liberation Tour and in 1990 they embarked on their first headline tour of The U.S.A. and have not stopped touring the world ever since. Their unique infectious brand of real Jamaican ska continues to please audiences of all ages across the globe year after year. 2019 sees The Skatalites back in the studio recording a new album following 2016’s Platinum Ska and 2017’s The Best of The Skatalites and The Skatalites (Live).

Tickets for The Skatalites Dublin, Cork and Limerick shows go on sale this Friday 19 April at 9am from (http://bit.ly/Skatal_SM) and Ticketbooth (www.ticketbooth.eu).

Full show listings can be found below:

16//07/2019 - Button Factory, Dublin: €27.50 (additional charges may apply)

17/07/2019 - Cyprus Avenue, Cork: €27.50 (additional charges may apply)

18/07/2019 - Dolan’s, Limerick: €23.00 (additional charges may apply)