When the lead singer for Mexico City鈥檚 Out of Control Army punctuated the band鈥檚 brassy intro with 鈥淎re you ready to ska?鈥� at Ship Point Wednesday afternoon, it was a question he really didn鈥檛 have to ask.
What the crowd assembled to kick off Victoria鈥檚 18th annual Ska and Reggae Festival initially lacked in size, it more than made up for in enthusiasm, and these music lovers were clearly ready for some ska action.
By the time downtown鈥檚 afternoon rush hour began to subside, the growing crowd had another reason to smile as clouds parted and the sun came out, as if on cue.
The sunshine seemed to validate Victoria city councillor and ska lover Jeremy Loveday鈥檚 observation that for many, himself lincluded, the festival 鈥渕arks the true arrival of summer鈥� each year.
Appearances by legendary soul sensation Booker T. Jones, Jamaica鈥檚 Keith and Tex and New Zealand鈥檚 The Black Seeds were among highlights of this year鈥檚 festival. And it鈥檚 not over yet.
It wraps up at 9 tonight at Ship Point after an all-ages finale starting at 2 p.m. that features Vancouver鈥檚 Roots Roundup, Victoria鈥檚 Dope Soda and San Francisco鈥檚 Rusty Zinn.
鈥淥ur festival is unique and inclusive,鈥� said Victoria sa国际传媒 Ska Society board member Byron Maier. 鈥淚t has a very special vibe. It鈥檚 a feel-good festival.鈥�
Bands who perform all over the world and often return tell organizers that Victoria鈥檚 festival 鈥渇eels like a big family reunion鈥� Maier said.
David Mujica, lead singer and bass player for Skampida, the Colombian fusion of ska, punk, klezmer, gypsy music, hip-hop and Latin music, concurred.
鈥淔or me, personally, the Victoria festival is one of the most special ska festivals in the world,鈥� said the globe-trotting Bogota-based musician who also likes its relative intimacy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 more special to be able to play at festivals where you can speak with the other bands and hang out with fans and organizers. At the bigger festivals you feel more alone.鈥�
Mujica and the band鈥檚 drummer Juan Sebastian Escovar 鈥� or Juanse to his friends and fans 鈥� seemed amused when some festival-goers expressed surprise that Colombians would be playing reggae music.
鈥淧eople think Colombians play more folk, that they play 鈥楥olombian鈥� music and that鈥檚 all,鈥� said Mujica, noting Colombia is a huge country with a multitude of musical influences.
Escovar admitted there can be similar perceptions about sa国际传媒, which he has noted during his travels is often regarded as being best known for rock music.
鈥淵ou think rock music in sa国际传媒, and the first name in your memory is Rush,鈥� he said with a smile, admitting even he was surprised when he first heard Rude, Toronto-bred band Magic鈥檚 reggae-pop hit.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e from sa国际传媒, and nobody thinks sa国际传媒 has reggae music, so it鈥檚 similar.鈥�
One festival fan who knows a thing or two about Colombian music is Maya Tobon, a music lover from Colombia who stood out in the crowd wearing a pale-blue scarf around her head.
鈥淚鈥檓 just protecting myself from the sun, but people seem to think I鈥檓 a Muslim,鈥� laughed Tobon, who also spoke about reggae鈥檚 popularity in her homeland. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a culture that has spread worldwide.鈥�
A scan of the crowd in the bleachers and on the outdoor dance floor indicated how Ska Fest鈥檚 plethora of different musical styles has multi-generational appeal.
While seniors shaded themselves in tents and millennials lined up at the Rolling Reef and other food trucks, two youngsters wearing headphones to protect their sensitive ears strutted their own unique dance moves.
For music lover Tim Green, 38, attending with his mother, the event brought back memories.
鈥淚鈥檝e liked ska ever since the band Pressure Cooker played around town,鈥� he said as he demonstrated his festival-friendly version of 鈥渟kanking.鈥�
It was one of several variations of the two-step dance that originated in Jamaican dance halls in the 1950s and is generally done with your knees slightly bent, and your arms and hips swinging as you bend forward.
鈥淭hat ska punk band got me into ska in the first place and I鈥檝e been going to Ska Fest ever since,鈥� Green said.
