with Eastern Standard Time, The Crombies, and more!
DERRICK MORGAN
A member of the classic first wave of Jamaican ska artists, Derrick Morgan was among the genre's founding fathers, emerging alongside pioneers including the Skatalites, Laurel Aitken, Prince Buster, and Desmond Dekker. By 1960, Morgan was the unrivaled King of Ska -- at the peak of his popularity, he was the first and only Jamaican artist to date to hold down the top seven slots on the national pop singles chart during the same week, generating a string of smashes including "Be Still," "In My Heart," "Don't Call Me Daddy," "Moon Hop," and "Meekly Wait and Murmur Not." In 1961, he recorded his biggest hit ever, "Housewives' Choice," and a year later -- in celebration of Jamaica's emancipation -- he recorded the first independence song, "Forward March." Morgan and Prince Buster, arguably the two biggest ska performers of the era, became embroiled in a fierce musical feud which quickly spilled over among their respective fans, and as of 1963, disputes between the two camps became so heated that leaders of the newly formed Jamaican government were forced to intervene, calling a cease-fire and bringing the two performers together for publicity photos to bury the hatchet. In 1966, Morgan issued "Tougher Than Tough," widely credited as the first record in the rocksteady genre. He continued to innovate in the years to follow -- among his most enduring contributions were "Went to the Hop" (the first Jamaican song with an electric bass guitar), "Blazing Fire" (the first song to employ an electric piano), "Love Not to Brag" (the first duet with a female artist, Millicent Patsy Todd) and "Seven Letters" (the first reggae song, produced in collaboration with brother-in-law Bunny Lee). Morgan also produced many of the era's most notable up-and-comers, among them Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, and Garnet Silk..
Derrick Morgan will be backed by EASTERN STANDARD TIME, who will also perform their own set.
EASTERN STANDARD TIME
Put together top musicians from the Jazz and Reggae scenes, give them the recipe for the original Jamaican Ska, throw a dose of Soul in the mix and the result is Eastern Standard Time. From their initial days as a Be Bop influenced Ska-Jazz supergroup, the band has matured over more than a decade, adding Rocksteady, Reggae, Dub, Soul, and even Spy Jazz into their repertoire. Eastern Standard Time is a world-renowned act, with multiple tours of The United States, Canada, Europe and Russia to their credit. Their recordings have brought them acclaim from as close as their own hometown--where they were dubbed "one of Washington's best bands" by the Washington Post-- to the wider global community. Eastern Standard Time has been featured on television and film. They can be heard in movie soundtracks and on radio stations around the world.
THE CROMBIES
Hey you! Are you missing that live 2 Tone sound? The Specials. Madness. English Beat. Selector. Bad Manners. Well listen buster... you better start to move your feet. The dance craze sound has returned to Chicago! This are THE CROMBIES! Beats that go one step beyond. Riddims that will have you ranking full stop. Ska that will free Nelson Mandela over and over. The rude boys of summer released their debut 7" single in 2011 on Jump Up records. Their smash hit "Blood and Fire" pays homage to the Chicago Fire AND Niney the Observer simultaneously! The b-side is no stranger to fans of Mike Park era DEAL'S GONE BAD - "Mad at the World" was revamped, reworked, and remodeled cor checkerboard delight. Fresh off an intimate gig backing RODDY RADIATION and LYNVAL GOLDING of THE SPECIALS, THE CROMBIES are truly on FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!
PATOIS SIX
Formed by ex-members of Chicago's SKAPONE, this new instrumental six piece plays a warm tropical fusion of ska/world/reggae/jazz that brings to mind the solo recordings of ERNEST RANGLIN and MONTY ALEXANDER.
DJ Chuck Wren, Triton Soundsystem, Darren Reggae, Bryan Martin, and Feel The Rhythm DJs spin your favorite Jamaican oldies - strictly on vinyl. Stay late for the after party - DJs spin until 3 am in the Act One Pub (located in the front of Mayne Stage).