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The annual Skanking Reggae Fest is officially back and will be held for the first time at the Shrine Expo Hall of Los Angeles on March 20th. The first bands announced to participate in the festival include Reel Big Fish, Panteon Rococo, El Gran Silencio, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Inspector, Raskahuele, 8 Kalacas and Dub Club DJs.

During the festival’s previous five years, it’s initial and continuing purpose has been to solidify this country’s Latin ska and reggae scene. It has already presented dozens of ska, punk and reggae groups from all over Latin America since its successful debut in 2010 in Pico Rivera in West Los Angeles. This year will be the first time that the lineup will internationally extend and include ska and punk groups in English. The full lineup will be announced soon.

Adrian Antonio Gonzalez, owner of iHomi and Bolochos, young musician, promoter and founder of growing Skanking Reggae Fest comments, “Since the first edition of the festival, we noticed that there is a high demand in the Los Angeles region for ska and reggae bands that are of quality from Latin America and Southern California. This year we look forward in working with American bands that sing in English to prove that ska is much bigger and more massive than a local movement, and that it can unite regardless of the language spoken.”

This will also be the first year that the festival is being supported and presented by Goldenvoice, the producers behind the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Fest, among others. “We wanted to get involved to be able to give a bigger platform to the talent of this genre: both the established bands and the new generation. We see that there is a need to promote and support the movement in order to help develop this scene that is looking for the right space to grow,” mentions Isaac Safdeye, Festival co-promoter of Goldenvoice.

In relation to the idea of combining established ska groups in both languages with this festival, Safdeye adds that “the concept of making a bilingual show is a pioneering step towards the future of the music industry in this country.”

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