The Victoria Ska & Reggae Fest returns for the first time in three years June 22 to 26, 2022. While international names like The Wailers, King Yellowman and Too Many Zooz top the lineup. There’s a number of great local acts that round out the festival.
This is your Victoria Ska & Reggae Fest 2022 Local Artist Preview.
Kicking off the reggae vibes and the festival on Wednesday June 22 will be Cheko & The Pozitive Rebellion. The band is based in the Cowichan Valley and formed in 2020 with members from Vancouver island groups Arise and Cheko & The Lion Rockers. Cheko Soto is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico and has been performing since 1999. Their sound is described as “reminiscent of danceable reggae groups like Katchafire, Fortunate Youth and Cultura Porfetica.”
Their set will be part of the first free concert at Ship Point headlined by Three Houses Down
Victoria’s Apex Breaks will be featured at the festivals first ever International Ska & Reggae Jam at Hermann's Upstairs on the Wednesday night. Apex Breaks will open the night with their psychedelic jungle-funk while more artists will jam together for a unique music experience for the rest of the night.
The Capital Collective are a ska/reggae/funk group in the form of a big band. The band features Victoria and Vancouver Island musicians and singers that you might recognize from other local bands.
The Capital Collective will perform at the second free event of the festival at Ship Point Thursday June 23 headlined by Kobo Town.
The Thursday evening show at Upstairs Cabaret features Vitoria group Blase Blase. Hip-hop mixed with jazz, funk and soul, the group includes Jesus Estevez of Illvis Freshly and Daniela Jackson of The Leg-Up Program on vocals. They’ve become a favourite of the Victoria Ska Reggae Society having performed on their livestreams and at Garden City Grooves.
Saturday’s entertainment at Ship Point features a headliner that is now based in Victoria. Bedouin Soundclash will perform at the Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival for the first time. The band has been making reggae/ska music for more than 20 years and solidified their mark in Canada and internationally with their breakout single ‘When The Night Feels My Song’ in 2004.
Saturday night, Victoria’s DJ Anger will keep the energy going at the Victoria Curling Club between sets of A.Skillz and Too Many Zooz. Joining him as a special guest will be King Benz.
Closing out the festival Sunday at Ship Point will be Toronto reggae/R&B artist Trish with some help of Victoria’s Phonosonics. The local roots reggae band has previously been the band for performances by Sister Nancy and Leroy ‘Heptone’ Sibbles. Early this year, Phonosonics signed a deal with U-NXT, a division of Universal Music Group.
For full festival details and to purchase passes, go to victoriaskafest.ca
