Advertisement
England, late seventies. Punk and ska begin to overlap. Guitars cutting through basslines carried into Britain from Jamaica years earlier. Rooms filling with kids from different scenes, suddenly wearing the same t-shirts. Punk stripped it down. Ska and reggae carried the pulse. By 1978 and 1979, The Clash and The Specials moved through the same circuits, same bills, same pressure in the air. It returns to the stage at Brunswick Ballroom, intact.
Black Market Clash play the songs of The Clash without smoothing the edges. Should I Stay Or Should I Go sits next to Straight To Hell, Safe European Home, Lost In The Supermarket and Janie Jones. There is no hierarchy and it’s not just a greatest-hits run. Victor Stranges, who came up through Melbourne’s 1980s punk scene, shares guitar and voice with Garry Allen. Stu Thomas on bass, drawing on years with Dave Graney and Kim Salmon. They approach the material with respect and reverence. Nothing out of place.
Loonee Tunes come at The Specials from inside the bloodstream. Not revival, but continuation. Formed in 1982, they are Australia’s longest-running ska band still performing regularly. Early in their career, they were channeling Dexys Midnight Runners before realising the room moved more to ska. A Message to You, Rudy, Too Much Too Young, Gangsters and Concrete Jungle. Horns tight. Rhythm locked. Movement follows naturally. The room doesn’t stay still.
One night only.
- DOORS 6:30PM
- KITCHEN OPENS 6:30PM
- SHOW STARTS 8:30PM
Advertisement
Event Venue
Brunswick Ballroom, 314 Sydney Road,Melbourne,VIC,Australia, Brunswick
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.





