And just like that the Melbourne Ska Orchestra turns 20 Years Young!
From the fun loving humble beginnings in St. Kilda to the international stages of Glastonbury, Istanbul, Montreal, Edinburgh, New York and beyond, the band has steered their ramshackle train into the hearts of many.
Initially formed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the birth of Ska (1963-2003), their infectious energy soon earned them a coveted slot at Bluesfest and WOMADelaide, a recording contract and accolades from all over the world.
Two ARIA award wins cemented their reputation as one of Australia’s best live acts, while three of their songs were chosen for a UK feature film about Ska.
The band have matched the appreciation with a work ethic that is second to none. To date they have released 7 albums, including a nigh impossible mission of recording a song a week for a whole year, the ARIA award winning 52 Fridays – One Year of Ska.
This record celebrates the first 20-year chapter of a journey that is still going strong.
Australian Festival Performances
- WOMAD, SA 2012
- Byron Bay Bluesfest, NSW 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2015
- Golden Plains Festival, VIC
- Caloundra Festival, QLD
- Queenscliff Festival, VIC
- AWME (Australiasian World Music Expo), VIC 2013 & 2014
- Fremantle Arts Centre New Years Day Concert, WA 2013/li>
- Bigsound, Brisbane QLD 2013
- City of Palmerston Festival, VIC 2014
- Summer of Soul Festival, Mossvale VIC 2015 & 2016
- Australia Day Festival Whittlesea, Melbourne VIC 2015
- Falls Festival, Lorne, VIC 2015
- Australia Day at The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2016
International Festival Performances
- WOMAD, New Zealand 2013
- Glastonbury, United Kingdom 2014
- Montreal Jazz Festival, Canada 2014
- Festival d’ete de Quebec, Canada 2014
- Dundas Square Toronto, Canada 2014
- Northern Lights Festival, Boreal Ontario Canada 2014, 2015
- Beaches Jazz Festival, Toronto Canada 2015
- Vacouver Folk Festival, Canada 2015
- Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, California US 2015
International Shows
- The Forge, Camden London UK – SOLD OUT 2014
- The Garage, London 2015
- The Observatory, Orange County US, 2015
- BB Kings Blues Bar & Grill, New York US 2015
