The Victoria Ska and Reggae Festival has long offered a wide variety of artistic expression, from punk to funk. The 24th edition is no different in that regard; the five-day fest has so much going on — often all at once — that even the most schedule-savvy supporter may miss out on something special. Here’s a shortlist of acts to keep an eye on during the festival, which runs June 21-25.
1. Exco Levi (Thursday, June 22, Ship Point). Canada doesn’t have many reggae performers who can compete with their Jamaican counterparts, but Exco Levi can be counted as one. The Harmons, Jamaica-born, Brampton, Ontario-based performer has won five Juno Awards (from 10 nominations), so the results speak for themselves. He’s the real deal.
2. Congo Natty (Friday, June 23, Victoria Curling Club). During the 1980s, singer Michael West was known as Rebel MC, who had one of the United Kingdom’s earliest hip-house hits (Street Tuff) as a member of Double Trouble. He’s developed slew of alter-egos in the three decades since, including Congo Natty, a pioneering jungle and breakbeat producer.
3. The Aggrolites (Friday, June 23, Ship Point). Los Angeles favourites The Aggrolites created their very own dirty reggae genre, which mixes elements of punk and ska with the authentic sounds of traditional Jamaican reggae. The band (which has been a regular visitor to Victoria) is always a big draw, and since their 2003 debut has been known as an exceptional live act. Their recordings are very strong, but their live concerts are out of this world.
4. Kid Koala (Saturday, June 24, Victoria Curling Club). The legacy of 91原创-born Eric San, the turntablist and animator known as Kid Koala, was cemented decades ago, when his brand of cut-and-paste hip-hop set the bar out of reach for his peers. Now living in Montreal, he continues to push boundaries, incorporating animation, film, hip-hop, and soundtrack-style sonics into his artistic output.
5. Sister Carol (Saturday, June 24, Ship Point). The 1980s was fertile ground for a new wave of reggae artists, especially those who were active immediately following Bob Marley’s death in 1981. Sister Carol (then based in New York) was among the performers who were making inroads, via her streetwise sensibility and dub-inflected dancehall. She never rose to the ranks of A-list acts, but she has been dependable for four decades. That’s saying something.
