Show Preview: SKAmania Holiday Extravaganza Featuring Pat Kelly & The Clarendonians – at Los Globos – SilverLake CA – December 7, 2013

Friday December 7th local reggae and ska regulars will once again converge on silver lake, at the now infamous and vastly important reggae clubhouse known as, SKamania! In what felt like an eternity, SKAmania returns for their ‘Ska  & Rock steady Holiday Extravaganza’ featuring The Steady 45’s, Queen P, Chris Murray and BOTH Pat Kelly & The Clarendonians being backed by The Delirians.

 

For as long as one could remember SKAmania had been introducing locals to the finest Jamaican artists from the country’s golden era to artists of today in what was always a perfect mash up of the past and present, continuing that trend SKAmania picks up right where it had left off. For those with their ears closely to the ground and hips glued to the dance floor, have no doubt noticed the influx of top level Reggae, Rock steady and Ska to wash over the west coast in recent years as Local labels have brandished their artists with a glimmer in their collective eyes, left Coast mainstay SteadyBeat Records will no doubt swell with pride as both The Steady 45’s and The Delirians accent this remarkable year ending show.

Local favorites The Delirians have been featured across all media outlets near and far and how could one question it? The talent these young men display has been seen with the likes of Ken Boothe, Jimmy Cliff, Eric Monty Morris and Pat Kelly to only name a few. And now return to the old stomping grounds with label mates The Steady 45’s. Adding to the Rock steady Flavor The Steady 45’s bring with them a very polished sound and dance craze invoking energy that has help propel them to the top of Los Angeles’s ska scene in a short amount of time placing them amongst the young elite in the community.

Original SteadyBeat Records and recent SKAmania lovers will no doubt recognize another lovely face belting away beautiful tune after beautiful tune as Queen P makes her anticipated return to the Los Globos stage. Always assured a fantastic set, Queen P and her dynamic vocal range will only add more merriment to this Holiday Extravaganza.

The next Christmas gift under the Rock steady tree is old friend The Globetrotting-acoustic legend, Chris Murray. With as many frequent flyer miles as popular tunes Chris Murray has delighted audiences from every genre and creed. And BigWheelMagazine.com even had the pleasure of catching him class things up a bit amongst all the debauchery of this years Punk Rock bowling festival 2013 in Las Vegas. Aside from his sheer acoustic mastery fans know him from his countless appearances on endless Ska tracks and one of the most revered regular Ska/Reggae nights to come across L.A. Bluebeat Lounge. 

Rounding off the highly anticipated night will be Pat Kelly and The Clarendonians being supported by The Delirians. Since going solo in 1968 with ‘Little Boy Blue’ Pat Kelly has turned out some of the finest music ever to leave the island. SKAmania regulars will once again welcome him back to Los Angeles and the Los Globos Stage as he makes his triumphant return, and is sure to bring with him some dance floor favorites such as ‘How Long Will It Take’ ‘Soulful Love’ ‘Sunshine’  ‘I’ll Never Fall In Love Again’ and personal favorite  ‘Dark End Of The Street’. Never a disappointment and a huge draw, Pat Kelly is just one half of the co-headline bill sure to be one for the ages.

The other headline act, and final group of the evening The Clarendonians Ernest Wilson and Peter Austin will make their long awaited Los Angeles debut in smashing fashion. We join together in celebrating 50 years of Clarendonians music be it solo tunes or chart toppers as a tandem, including: ‘Rudie Gone A Jail’ ‘Rudie Bam Bam’ ‘Darling Forever’ ‘You Wont See Me’ ‘This Is My Story’ amongst countless others. The Clarendonians are a relic to the glory years, to be viewed, appreciated and held in high esteem. To miss December 7th for anything other than a medical emergency will leave you feeling like the Grinch for the remainder of the holiday season. 

 

 

-Gio Van Dam-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

 

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