We are delighted to announce the first 6 bands to be confirmed for The London Int’l Ska Festival 2027 (25-27 March) are… heading our way from Jamaica, Ireland, UK and Austria…
Vin Gordon & The Real Rock Band – The legendary Studio One & Bob Marley & The Wailers trombonist
The Bionic Rats – Ireland’s finest returning to LISF after 10 years!
and making their debut appearances at LISF;
Nine Ton Peanut Smugglers – Oxford’s Rhythm & Ska machine
Rookie Numbers – Leeds newcomers building a great reputation
Intimspray – late 70s/early 80s post punk/new wave/2 Tone cult figures
The Rocksteady Conspiracy – sweet ska, rocksteady & reggae out of Vienna
Read all about them / take a listen below.
Who’s going to be the next 30 acts to be announced?
Tickets including Group Tickets (4 people for the price of 3 or 10 people for the price of 6) are available from www.buytickets.at/hotshotscorcher
Vin Gordon & The Real Rock Band
The legendary Vin Gordon, aka Don D Junior, Jamaica’s master trombonist, has played through the golden years of Jamaican music. Vin’s life in music started in the early 60s at the famed Alpha Boys School. He started recording at Coxone Dodd’s Studio One in 1965 recording for The Wailers alongside great musicians such as The Skatalites’ Roland Alphonso, Tommy McCook, Jackie Mittoo, Lester Sterling and many more. He can be heard on many Studio One legends recordings: The Wailers (Jailhouse), Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, The Abyssinians (Satta Amassagana), The Heptones, Delroy Wilson, Bob Andy and Alton Ellis and plenty more, the list is staggering!
His biggest hits as a solo artist were ”Heavenless” ( credited as Don D Junior, his nickname ) and ”Real Rock”, which he composed alongside Jackie Mittoo, a forever popular massive reggae anthem, and probably the most covered riddim in reggae history. Come the early 70’s Vin was in huge demand and recorded for star producers; Lee Perry, Jack Ruby, Joe Gibbs, Duke Reid, Yabby U, Bunny Lee, and Harry J to name but a few.
In 77 his friend Bob Marley brought him to London (Vin was his favourite trombone player having played on the Natty Dread and Rastaman Vibration albums ) to record the Exodus and Kaya albums, both million selling classic albums (including hits like ‘Is This Love’, ‘Satisfy My Soul’, ‘Exodus’. While in the UK he recorded on Aswad’s Warrior Charge.
Nowadays he leads his own band, The Real Rock Band. A ninepiece group featuring some of the most experienced London musicians of different generations capable of playing the real authentic grooves of Jamaica’s foundation styles: Ska, Rock Steady and Reggae plus incursions into other styles like latin influenced Mento. Their set is one of a true originator of Jamaican musical history. Mighty ska big band instrumentals, sweet rocksteady, rocking reggae and heavy roots feature. Simply classic after classic.
Take a listen to some of the classics…
Real Rock here
Exodus here
Warrior Charge here
Making their first appearance at the LISF in 10 years (!), Ireland’s leading 2 Tone inspired stars have spent the last 20 years carving out their own explosive blend of reggae, ska, dub and punk energy. From their 18 year long residency at Dublin’s Foggy Dew (one of the longest in Irish history) and main stage performances at Electric Picnic, LISF 2014 AND 2017 to their 4 classic studio albums, The Bionic Rats continue to drive forward.
Take a listen to them live on the Imelda May TV show here and here
Nine Ton Peanut Smugglers
From their 2009 debut right up to last years killer Pieces of Eight album on Spain’s Liquidator Music label, Oxford’s finest have been conjuring up a heady brew of old school Ska, Jamaican Boogie, Rhythm’n’Blues, Soul, Rocksteady and Reggae. The results are their own ‘Rhythm ‘n’ Ska’ sound. Highly infectious it is too!
Take a listen here
Rookie Numbers
Hailing from Leeds – Rookie Numbers are one of the most exciting new bands on the alternative UK scene have been winning fans up and down the country. And when you see their high-octane ska-rave live show, it’s easy to see how and why the septet are making such waves.
Take a listen here and here
Intimspray
The Austrian/German New Wave & punk band originally formed in Vienna in 1979, before relocating to Munich. Known for their biting, German-language lyrics and post-punk sound, the band was a cult fixture in the early 1980s before reuniting in 2020. Their 2024 album – Die Butter, delivers their trademark fusion of sounds marvellously, like a mutant child of 2 Tone & Kraftwerk.
Take a listen to them live in 1980 here and the title track off their Die Butter album here
The Rocksteady Conspiracy
These Viennese vintage reggae, ska, and rocksteady specialists formed in 2012, primarily to back Rico Rodriguez, Derrick Morgan and Dave Barker. However, their 2019 debut LP – Rough & Sweet and this years In Vain album underline what a talent they are in their own right! As well as making their festival debut, this will also be their UK debut!
Take a listen to Cool It here and Today here
