Ska, reggae, jazz, funk, hip-hop and rock. You will hear all this and more when the second annual Green Fest kicks off at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield Friday night, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Co-sponsored by The Enthusiast, the Green Fest will take place in both the main room and the Wheelhouse at Hawks & Reed, 289 Main St. The dance floor will be on fire with sets by local acts: Dave Noonan’s Green Island, The Diamondstones, The Equalites and Delawater. I-ganic Sound System and DJ FunkyBottoms will also be in the house, as will hip-hop artist Machakas Kyalo.
This lineup alone is enough to make for a great night of music, but it gets even better because the headliner for Green Fest is none other than the seminal Jamaican ska band The Skatalites.
The Skatalites got its start in 1964, and went on to become one of the most influential bands to come out of Jamaica. The band essentially created the genre of music known as ska, which is noted for its fast, infectious rhythm and horn-heavy sound.
While the Skatalites were wildly influential, their original career during the 1960s lasted only 14 months. During that time, the band backed all of the rising artists of the day, including The Wailers with Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals, Prince Buster, Delroy Morgan and about every other artist that was recording at the time.
After a 20-year hiatus, the band got back together in 1983 to perform at the famed Reggae Sunsplash festival in Montego Bay, Jamaica. In 1986, the members moved to the United States and soon after began touring all over the world. There have been various personnel changes within the band over the years, but the Skatalites remain a driving force in the ska world and continue to delight audiences around the globe with its high-energy, feel-good music.
Ken Stewart, the band’s keyboardist, is celebrating his 30th anniversary with the group, and is looking forward to the band’s upcoming show in Greenfield.
Like many Americans, his introduction to ska came via the music of British bands like The Specials and The English Beat that were part of the two-tone movement of the early 1980s.
“I didn’t even know what real Jamaican ska was until I saw the Skatalites in 1987,” said Stewart in a recent phone interview. “I said to my friend, ‘Wow, if I could be in any band in the world it would be this band.’”
Six months later his wish came true.
“I met the band’s drummer, Lloyd Knibb (who is credited with creating the ska beat), because he came to Rhode Island to play in this little reggae band that I was in,” said Stewart. “I was rather puzzled as to why he was there, and he said they had started doing shows in the U.S. in 1986, but it didn’t really take off. He also mentioned that the band didn’t have a keyboard player, so I auditioned and that was it.”
Stewart played his first gig with the band in 1988 in a show backing Jamaican artist Owen Gray. At that time, there were five original band members in the group, though over the years, most of the original Skatalites have died. Alto saxophone player Lester Sterling remains a member of the group and appeared on its last album “Platinum Ska” released last year, but he does not tour regularly. Drummer Lloyd Knibb is also heard on a couple of tracks that were recorded before he died in 2011. Vocalist Doreen Schaffer remains in the band — which currently has nine members — and she will perform at the Hawks & Reed show.
The Skatalites have been able to move forward by recruiting top musicians.
“We have got some of the next generation of Jamaican studio guys,” said Stewart. “Some of these guys have been on the scene for years; they were fans of the band, dancing like mad at Skatalites shows when they were teenagers.”
The band’s influence is so wide-ranging that its impact can be heard in acts like No Doubt, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Less Than Jake, and so many more bands that were considered part of the third-wave ska movement. The Skatalites have welcomed young musicians and are willing to teach, Stewart said.
“I have always said that the Skatalites had plenty to do with the third-wave ska scene. In fact, No Doubt used to open for us and Doreen and Gwen (Stefani) remain friends.”
It’s been 54 years, but the Skatalites are going strong and have no plans of slowing down. The band is a big festival draw and have played all the biggest music festivals in the world. This year is shaping up to be a big year with festivals in Europe and a reggae cruise with Damian Marley. The band is also working on a new album featuring collaboration with other artists.
What would Stewart have to say to those who may not be familiar with the Skatalites or even ska, and might need some encouragement to check out this show?
“This is Jamaica’s greatest band. This is a combination of blues, of jazz and reggae,” Stewart answered. “It spawned hip-hop and rap and so many sub-genres of reggae. This is the band that created it all, so if you’re into roots or even if you’re not, it’s impossible to not move at least one part of your body when you are listening to the Skatalites’ music.”
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, and can be purchased at: www.hawksandreed.com. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Sheryl Hunter is a music writer who lives in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national magazines. You can contact her at: soundslocal@yahoo.com.