A first great review from Vive Le Rocks Guy Shankland for The Skapones "Northern Gods" over at Original Rock.net 

9/10!

Reads as- 

2-Tone keepers of the faith THE SKAPONES drop a brand new single ‘Northern Gods’. 

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Guy Shankland 

Coming soon. 

‘Northern Gods’ 

Cosa Nostra Records 

9/10 

North East skank inducers The Skapones return with a maturer yet no less spiky 2-Tone treat to puncture the overinflated blue ballon of Tory lies and corruption. ‘Northern Gods’ floats into view over the smog and gristle of levelling up promises and aims straight for the lyrical jugular. The toe-tapping beat is perfectly paired with some subtle brass and Paul ‘Willo’ Williams call to arms vocals. Rare that a B-side matches its flip but ‘Cost Of Barrel’ goes toe to toe with its deft and disarming Specials resonance. 

The Skapones are about to take to the road with the legendary 2-Tone originals The English Beat and if you going get there early! 

For more Skapones info including release dates, tour dates and merchandise head over to: https://www.facebook.com/theskapones

Read original source here - ORIGINAL ROCK SKAPONES REVIEW

Our 14th single will be "NORTHERN GODS" the title track from the forthcoming second album!

It will be backed by a rare track of ours that was recorded about 5 years ago called "Cost Of A Barrel".

Gods is mixed and mastered by Paul Ayriss  with Barrel mixed and mastered by our very own Niffy!

Release date and formats TBA! 

** BE WARNED - ITS A HEAVY MONSTER! **

Great book review by Ian Taylor of the Mad Not Mad Fanzine ! 

Thanks Ian!

"... THE SKAPONES: WAY OUT WEST 

2019, The Specials and Stuff… 

By Paul Williams (2022) 

During the dreary lockdown days, our friend Paul Willo, the hardworking family man, Specials biographer, Specialized charity kingpin and frontman of North East Ska band The Skapones decided to find creative ways to pass the time. One of these was to consign to print the most amazing tale of the band’s journey so far – an amazing DIY tour of the United States! 

2019 was an amazing year for Paul and The Skapones, starting with the usual busy schedule of gigs at festivals, pubs and clubs up and down the country but then transcending the mere ordinary when The Specials invited them to play two support slots on their 40th Anniversary UK tour. Even as this magic unfurled, so even wilder ideas were beginning to ferment. A budget tour of America, including a date at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in LA. 

This book tells the whole tale and is convincingly told in Paul’s voice. Not dressed up, not played down, honest, bold and and resolutely DIY, just the way the band has always tried to be. 

The community man shines through; the family man, the political voice, the warts and all genuine reflection and wish to do things right. The passion, the blood, the sweat and the tears. There is bullish confidence but also an endearing innocence and an honest ‘fair cop’ attitude to decisions and actions, right or wrong. 

Starting slowly and building, conveying the relentless graft of home gigs, the story then picks up to a thoroughly magnetic tale of living a dream and taking on America, the place that broken many a bigger band. In between the music moments, Paul bestows interesting nuggets of info on various locations in America. And it’s got proper soul. 

Some passages had me chuckling out loud, others gritting my teeth in frustration, but most of all, as my family and I have known Paul for years (my daughter Tilly and I even get a mention for our attendance at the Darwen Live gig) and recently got to know ace guitarist Mark Wilson, it is intensely emotional. I lived the journey with them and at times felt so moved at the thought of a mate fulfilling such a dream that I was close to tears. 

This isn’t a seamless professional book, it’s not clinical perfection…it’s so much better than that. It is an honest, from the heart revelation of the real world of grass roots music and all it should mean. In short, it’s an essential tale of one of Ska’s hardest working bands and the men and women behind it, from band members to family members to fans. 

It’s such a kick to be a small part of the story. Pork Pie hat off to you, Mr Willo. This is a must-read book. 

IAN TAYLOR, MAD NOT MAD Zine... " 

You can get the book via Amazon at- 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/.../ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i... 

Or direct from us (Free Live CD while stocks last) 

https://theskapones.co.uk/product/768841 

And if there's any left.. At gigs from merch stall...

In what will be our last book signing session, we come home to the hometown Darlington on Sunday 10th April and go to HEAD Bookshop in Post House Wynd.

There will be background tunes, Tea, coffee, and wine!

Don't forget, a free LIVE CD with every book bought!

Hope to see some of you there.

12noon till 2pm.

We had a fabulous time and had simply the best hospitality bar none at that wonderful store Black Slab in Redcar on the Cleveland coast on Sunday 13th March 2022.

The Skapones book "Way Out West" was on sale at the first official book signing and thank you to everyone that came and bought a copy. We hope your enjoy it. Big shoutout to Mark Stubbs and Co. at Black Slab for all they did for us and to Pauly Photography for taking official pics

Please check out Black Slab online at www.blackslabrecords.com or better still get to Millbank Terrace, Redcar and visit in person.

We are impatiently awaiting delivery of... 
"The Skapones -Way Out West" book! 
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8483105947 

Buy direct from us via the store and get a free live mini album cd. 
*SUBSCRIBERS* you will receive a discount code in your email when ordering commences, which should be next week. 
Couple of book signing sessions to be announced also where the CD will come with the book.

With our double headliner gig at the New Cross Inn London on Saturday 19th February with Specials legend Roddy Radiation &The Skabillies in mind, ALSO ON SATURDAY 19th FEB, we release ON BANDCAMP ONLY ,the completely Skabilly version of "JB's Body", a full on rockin'/ska fusion remixed by our trumpet man Dave McNiff. Featuring Roddy Radiation on guitar and billed as RODDY RADIATION FT. THE SKAPONES - this will open your eyes a bit! 

LINK TO FOLLOW on SAT FEBRUARY 19TH SO CHECK BACK!

**** ANNOUNCEMENT **** 
We are very pleased to be able to bring the RELEASE DATE of the forthcoming SKAPONES book " The Skapones- Way Out West; 2019, The Specials & Stuff"  . TUESDAY MARCH 1ST 2022 will be the date. It'll be available from Amazon etc... but if you order DIRECT from our store you will receive the free live CD mini album "Still A-Live". Massive thanks to THE SPECIALS' HORACE PANTER  for writing the foreword.  Book signing day in the North east planned. Info will be posted as and when. Any places interested in a signing event get in touch 

From the book press; 
"...One shaky mobile phone video taken in a North East public house set the ball rolling. 
No one knew where it would go. 
In a flash, the images were seen in the USA. The seeds of what was about to happen was sown. 
2019 was a great year for these rag, tag, and bobtail ska boys from the Tees Valley. 
Their DIY approach had been admired and emulated, and the hard work came to fruition with many great events and spot on their heroes’ UK dates when they played with The Specials on their 40th Anniversary Tour. 
America beckoned in a two-week tour across the whole of the nation culminating in fabulous events at the Whisky A Go Go in L.A. and in Brooklyn, New York. 
Breakfast in LA, lunch in Chicago and dinner in New York. 
It’s a tale of sweat, blood, tears, no sleep, and jam sandwiches. 
From East to West – North East ska was the best!..." 

OUT 01-03-22

*** EXCITING NEWS - YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! *** 

We have a chance to appear at the Isle Of Wight Festival under the New Blood competition! 

What we need you guys to do is head over here- - 

https://hotvox.co.uk/artist/the-skapones/ 

AND VOTE!!!! 

If you could do that , you'd be the bestest! 

Share it with like minded friends and lets rock the Wight 

Vote for The Skapones .Much love xxx

Well... We are back on the bill with our friends MADNESS and our pals Supa & Da Kryptonites! 
LINDISFARNE FESTIVAL 2022,will be our 4th, had announced a stellar line up. Great to see big events looking out for local original artists 
Tickets on sale now!! 

https://lindisfarnefestival.com/tickets/