Ska stars sign up for Troon concert
Esperanza, plus UK’s best part- time band, Bombskare, join the line- up Highland heroes set for Irvine
The biggest names in the Scottish ska scene are heading for the Ayrshire coast as Seaside Ska returns for round three.
The Troon Concert Hall gig, which has sold out for the past two years, promises a line- up guaranteed to get you on your feet.
Returning to headline the gig on Saturday, February 11 are Glasgow legends Esperanza, who need little introduction to fans of the genre.
With a huge, loyal following the band are regulars in the city’s gig listings as well as a treat on the summer festival circuit and have become a support act of choice for many of the scene’s biggest names having shared stages with legends such as Toots and the Maytals, Lee Scratch Perry, Bad Manners and The Beat.
They released their second album, Back on Hope Street, to rave reviews last year and look set to kick off another huge year with One of Britain’s fastest rising bands return to Ayrshire next month.
Highland six- piece Neon Waltz are set for Irvine’s Harbour Arts Centre on Saturday, February 18.
The band have won rave reviews from music bibles Q and NME, and will stop off at the harbourside venue on their latest UK tour.
Speaking to The Ticket before they performed in Kilmarnock last year, frontman Jordan Searer said: “We didn’t really expect their Troon performance.
Joining them on the lineup are Edinburgh ‘ ska juggernaut’ Bombskare, making their first appearance at Seaside Ska.
Recently voted the UK’s Best Part Time Band on the BBC show of the same name hosted by Midge Ure and comedian Rhod Gilbert, their energetic stage show is not to be missed.
The band are currently recording a new album to be released later this year, and will road test some of their new things to grow this quickly.
“It’s always a little boost when people start writing nice stuff about you but we never really made our music for anyone else.
“We just made it because we thought it was really good, and we liked it.
“But when you start to find out that quite a lot of other people like it, it’s really nice.”
Support on the night comes from hotlytipped Ayrshire outfit The Cairds. Tickets cost £ 7.95, and are available from ticketweb. co. uk. material on the Ayrshire crowd.
Rounding out the line- up are Seaside Ska regulars The Amphetameanies and Big Fat Panda, while a DJ will keep the crowd entertained between sets with a host of ska classics.
There will be two licensed bars, with Kilwinning clothes store Dead End Street on site with a stall.
Craig McAllister, of organisers Freckfest, said: “We’re delighted to see Seaside Ska now established as one of the ‘ must attend’ events in the ska calendar.
“This year’s lineup is the strongest yet and we’re really looking forward to pulling on our dancing shoes and letting our hair down for the night. “See you down the front.” Tickets for the third edition of Seaside Ska at Troon Concert Hall are on sale at ticketweb. co. uk, and from the Harbour Arts Centre in Irvine, costing £ 16. Doors open at 6pm on Saturday, February 11.