Dizzybeat.com

It's only a week until the next Garage Land @ UTS's Loft Bar. This month features the fantastic King Cannons from Melbourne as they return to Sydney for a string of shows. Joining them will be The Optionals, Long Slow Drive as well as Snap DJs and myself on the wheels of steel. Please come along - it is free after all!

Thursday October 15 @ the UTS Loft Bar, Broadway.

King Cannons - Teenage Dreams

While I don't think the intended ironic name of this tour is a particularly good one (after all when was ska's fortune ever linked exclusively to America?), the entertainment on offer definitely has me interested. The main reason is Canada's One Night Band who play an infectious style of dirty reggae. Dan Potthast from MU330 and Melbourne's The Resignators will keep those of you into ska-punk interested.

21 Oct Cambridge Hotel Newcastle *
22 Oct Annandale Hotel Sydney
23 Oct Hamilton Station Hotel Newcastle
24 Oct Jubilee Hotel Brisbane
25 Oct Oxford Hotel Wollongong
29 Oct National Hotel Geelong
30 Oct Live @ Light Square Adelaide
1 Nov Ska Nation Evelyn Hotel Fitzroy **
2 Nov Ska Nation Corner Hotel Richmond

Guest supports on all shows.

* The Resignators only
** Dan Potthast Only

The Joe Strummer tribute at the Hopetoun Hotel in Sydney on Saturday night was probably the best local gig I've been to since I got back from England at the beginning of this year. While I have previously complained of a lack of positive invigorated musical projects in Sydney, seeing bands like King Cannons, The Rumjacks and Trenchtown brought back memories of how enjoyable the Sydney live music scene can be. As well, Backy Skank, stalwarts of the Sydney ska scene, benefited greatly from being on such a positive bill. They really needed to rise to a certain level, and they did so.

Over the next few months, I will have the pleasure of seeing King Cannons a number of times, in Sydney, the Blue Mountains and their hometown of Melbourne. This band puts on such a great show, and while I would love them to play a whole set of reggae, their stage performance and musical ability makes their other tunes still very enjoyable. Get along to see them if you can.

Dizzybeat may just seem to be a gig listing at the moment, but that's what happens when life takes over for a while. With the choice of staying home in front of the puter or DJing at Garage Land, I choose Garage Land.

This month's event features The Versionaries and Trench Town, making it a big night of reggae. Lovely.

Drinks and tunes kick of at 5, with the first band on at 8 pm. Best thing is, it is free! Get along to UTS's Loft Bar on Thursday September 10 for some top sounds.

Dizzybeat.com is very excited to be supporting a big event in Melbourne in November. It's the second annual Ska Nation event, and it offers something for all ska tastes, from early JA sounds right through to ska-punk. Held over two days, the event brings together some of Australia and the world's great names in ska music.

It is One Night Band from Canada with their dirty reggae sounds that has Dizzybeat particularly interested, but also it will be the first time we'll catch the relatively new High Tides and The Ska Vendors will be doing a once-off comeback gig. Update: 80s 2-tone act Loonee Tunes have joined Sunday's line-up!

Add to that Area 7, Dan Pothast from MU330, The Resignators, King Cannons, Addiction 64, Calico Jacks and The Reefs, and you have a huge weekend of ska music.

Night one is on November 1st @ the Evelyn Hotel and night two is on November 2nd @ the Corner Hotel. Tickets for night two are available from cornerhotel.com.

For those coming from interstate, ensure you book accommodation asap as it is Melbourne Cup weekend and is particularly busy.

More info: http://www.skanation.com

The opening night of Garage Land was a great do, and it returns on August 13 @ UTS's Loft Bar. The Shake Up and Bunt will be joined by Andy Razor, Snap! DJs and myself on the decks playing the best ska, reggae, soul and punk. Free entry makes for an even better evening. Get down early for the cheap beers.

Sydney's annual soul weekender (not be confused with the National, which varies its home city) is on during August. In its third year, it is going from strength to strength, and promises to be a great event for soul lovers, as well as lovers of mod and Jamaican music (particularly on the Friday night).

Friday - City of Sydney RSL Club, 585 George Street, Sydney 9.30- 2am
Saturday - Oldies all-nighter 8pm - 5am - Gaelic Theatre, Surry Hills
Sunday all-dayer - 4pm - 12am Kings Cross Hotel

Weekend tickets can be purchased for $35, and individual event tickets can be bought on respective doors.

For more info check out the facebook event.