Mad Caddies live at Tauranga, Auckland

Kiwi ska punks rejoice! Acclaimed Fat Wreck Chords ska champions Mad Caddies are heading back to New Zealand to celebrate their 25th Anniversary in 2020 — playing at Totara Street (R18 venue) in Tauranga on Wednesday, April 15 and The Tuning Fork (R18 venue) in Auckland on Thursday, April 16.

Even better news is we have two copies of their latest offering Punk Rock Steady

up for grabs as a precursor to what will be one mother of a show. Get a taste of it at madcaddies.bandcamp.com/album/ punk-rockstead

It’s chock full of covers that were handpicked by Fat Mike and the band.

Every original song that was chosen for this album has a memorable melody that could easily translate to a reggae melody and as the band has stated, a good song is a good song no matter what style it’s played in.

Look out for great versions of Green Day’s She, Bad Religion’s Sorrow and Lagwagon’s Alien8 to name but a few of it’s 12 tracks, all given that inimitable Mad Caddies makeover.

The Mad Caddies are at a point in their career where they can do whatever the heck they want and have proven that they are the King Midas of Fat Wreck Chords.

Everything they touch turns to gold and

Punk Rock Steady is all the their new album proof you need.

Along with contemporaries The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, No Doubt and Rancid amongst others, Mad Caddies rode high on the mid-90s third wave ska revival, doing their part to turn a whole new generation onto the vital sounds first born in late 50s Jamaica and later crossed with the burning energy of 70s punk rock.

While trends and times have changed, Mad Caddies have committed and stayed true to their original blueprint, celebrating their love of ska and reggae, creating urgent and dynamic music with universal appeal for punk fans across the planet.

Mad Caddies 25th Anniversary Tour will be a Kiwi punk rock ‘n’ ska party like no other.

Tickets from davidroywilliams.com/ tours/madcaddies/ for Tauranga and from Ticketmaster for Auckland.

■ You can enter by text (write TAC Mad Caddies CD, plus your name and address, and text it to 021 241 4568) or mail (address to Mad Caddies CD Competition and include your name, address and daytime phone number). Deadline is 5pm Friday.

This competition is provided by ‘Fill The House Tickets Project’, proudly supporting families of children with cancer.