The Victoria BC Ska and Reggae Society has announced the lineup for the 24th annual Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival.
Headliners for 2023 include Maxi Priest, Chali 2na & The House of Vibe, Brother Ali, and The Aggrolites. Victoria Ska & Reggae Fest will take place Wednesday June 21 to Sunday June 25, 2023.
Reggae icon Maxi Priest will make his Victoria debut bringing his reggae fusion style to the main stage at Ship Point. He’s one of two British reggae acts to have an American Billboard number one hit in 1990’s ‘Close to You’. Other hits include his duets with Roberta Flack (‘Set the Night to Music’) and Shaggy (‘That Girl’). He will headline day of reggae at Ship point with Sister Carol, Junior Toots – Tribute to Toots & The Maytals and Pan Wizards Steel Orchestra.
Chali 2na is no stranger to the festival scene in Victoria having performed at Victoria Ska & Reggae Fest, Rifflandia and Capital Ballroom a number of times over the years. He last performed at Ship Point with Ozomatli in 2018. This year he brings his long-time Band The House of Vibe to celebrate hip-hop culture and grooves. He’ll be closing out Friday June 23 at Ship Point with The Aggrolites (who will be returning to the festival for the first time in nearly a decade) and Los Furios.
Another headliner making his Victoria Ska & Reggae Fest debut is rap artist Brother Ali. He’ll be bringing his provocative and uplifting brand of hip hop performing music from his eight critically acclaimed albums spanning his two-decade career. Brother Ali will be part of a double bill at the Victoria Curling Club with Canadian DJ legend Kid Koala who is making his Victoria return after 8 years.
Local favourites Caleb Hart & Co. Mo Moshiri and Nostic will perform a reggae and hip-hop party at Upstairs Cabaret on the Thursday night.
As is tradition, the festival will feature three days of free shows at Ship Point on the Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Kicking off the fesitval will be Perfect Giddimani, La Real Del Sonido, Stop The Presses and Blackwood Kings
Thursday’s free show will feature Canadian reggae icon Exco Levi with Out of Control Army from Mexico City, Apex Breaks and Raincity
Closing out the festival on Sunday will be Ojo de Buey, My Son The Hurricane, Oral Fuentes, Street Pharmacy and Kownterpoint.
Festival passes and individual show tickets go on sale Friday March 24, 2023 at 10am
Full festival information is and tickets available at victoriaskatfest.ca
Wednesday June 21 at Ship Point (Free Show)
Pefect Giddimani | La Read Del Sonido | Stop The Presses | Blackwood Kings
Thursday June 22 at Ship Point (Free Show)
Exco Levi | Out of Control Army | Apex Breaks | Raincity
Thursday June 22 at Upstairs Cabaret ($19.50 – $25 advance)
Caleb Hart & Co. | Mo Moshiri | Nostic
Friday June 23 at Ship Point ($39.50 – $49.50 advance)
Chali 2na & The House of Vibe | The Aggrolites | Los Furios | Tank Gyal
Friday June 23 at Victoria Curling Club ($36.50 – $45 advance)
Congo Natty | Stickybuds | Jennay Badger
Saturday June 24 at Ship Point ($42.50 – $59.50 advance)
Maxi Priest | Sister Carol | Junior Toots (Tribute to Toots & The Maytals) | Pan Wizards Steel Orchestra | DJ Arems & DJ Abel
Saturday June 24 at Victoria Curling Club ($36.50 – $45 advance)
Brother Ali | Kid Koala
Sunday June 25 at Ship Point (Free Show)
Ojo de Buey | My Son The Hurricane | Oral Fuentes | Street Pharmacy | Kownterpoint
