The reviews are still coming in and here's a cracker from Guy Shankland of Vive Le Rock and Original Rock for the new single "The Eyes Of A Child".  Big love to Guy & Original Rock.

" North East Ska pioneers THE SKAPONES continue their own personal mission to keep the now legendary 2-Tone legacy alive and well in and beyond 2021. The band’s latest offering is the slightly slower paced ‘Eyes Of A Child’. The track’s melancholy edge effortlessly glides into a Specials slipstream of danceable desperation. The subtle mix of musical styles balances the track out beautifully and if you’re looking for a new band to get you both skanking, and thinking then look no further than The Skapones. 

The band are due to head out later this year for a UK tour supporting Ska leg-ends The English Beat. For more Skapones info, tour dates and merch head over to; 

https://www.facebook.com/theskapones

Guy Shankland March 2021..."

LINK TO ORIGINAL ARTICLE - ORIGINAL ROCK REVIEW MARCH 2021

BRAND NEW PROMO VIDEO PREMIERED LAST WEEK AND ITS BELOW - 

Thanks to ButtonDown radio blog for the review of the new split single. More to come when we get em.

"...Ska-Line Round up of the Global Ska Scene 21st February 2021 

Whilst we await the next version of our escape plan from COVID here's what's going on in the ska scene! 

Due soon - the new split single from The Skapones and Detroit Riddim Crew on Cosa Nostra Records. The Skapones track - Eyes of a Child. DRC - Look Around. 

Last time Detroit Riddim Crew hosted The Skapones on the Do Something / Girl Inside split EP. This time, it's The Skapones hosting. There really is no such thing as a typical Skapones single is there. And again they break any mould that starts to form around them. At just a shade under 6 minutes long, this is never going to be a 100mph skanker but this is no slouch of a tune. The extra time gives the tune time to develop and grow. From their press release: 'we are given deep and insightful lyrics that remain direct yet ambiguous, to achieving awareness, to life lessons to awakenings, all delivered in a sharp crisp arrangement and tune bursting with 2Tone-esque rhythms, great brass riffs and harmonious melody from the North east skankers whilst showcasing all their major influences yet remaining highly original.' 

I think that Cartoon Violence are setting some kind of record for the most mentions on the BDR blog as Chuzz lends his ivory tinkling talents and Carlos Russell from Malambo Ska adds to the percussive battalion. Thought provoking and imminently danceable, this gives us a sneaky insight into what we may experience in the eagerly awaited second Skapones album - Northern Gods. On the flipside, we get what I thing is the best Detroit Riddim Crew track yet. Look Around is superbly catchy number with an easy laid back feel. A ska influenced tune after last year's Fight For Your Rights / Falling Down (Another jewel in the DRC crown) which had a much more dubby feel. This complements the Skapones track superbly. Available on digital and luvverly red vinyl (no firm date due to delays after lockdowns etc. - it will be worth the wait.) Keep a cautious eye on https://www.theskapones.co.uk/ for ordering when it lands, It will go quick as only limited numbers available!..."

ButtonDown Radio Blog February 2021

Hows everyone doing in these strange old times? 

Our forthcoming  brand new single, recorded mainly ona  remote levbel at home due to the pandemic, is mixed and mastered by Paul Ayriss and is away to the vinyl pressing plant! and to make this a really cool 7" vinyl release (digi download will also be available)  its coming out on luscious RED vinyl!!! So good you could lick it.

Ordering link swill be available soon as the vinyl lands with us.

The Detroit Riddim Crew track " Look around" was recorded in Jamaica and this really makes it a cool split single, our 2nd with the DRC. the vinyl will be available on limited edition here in UK and the USA.

Stay tuned!!!!! and stay safe x

A LIVE VERSION of our track "Dorian's Going Grey" is to be featured on a brand new international ska compilation album titled "Ska Man Saves The Ska Show With Beefy"

This release is a digi download benefit compilation whose aim is to help raise funds for the future broadcasting of one of the globe's finest ska radio shows "The Ska Show With Beefy" airs every week on Southern FM out in Melbourne, Australia & DJ Beefy His benefit comp features a stunning array of 60 bands from all over the globe playing all genres of the ska scene. The album is out on 30th January and you can pre-order it now on Bandcamp here:

SKA MAN SAVE STHE SKA SHOW COMPILATION

Hot on the trail of the news of another UK/USA collaboration between ourselves and the Detroit Riddim Crew comes another belter with the news that The Skapones will be featuring on a new track with our Mexican friends Los Chicklets! 

This will be coming soon and although we cant reveal what the title is JUST yet, it has a NUTTY theme!

Stay tuned for more info soon!

*** NEW MUSIC ALERT *** 

Its great to announce that after the success of the first Skapones USA release with the Riddim crew last year, both bands are back on a brand new 7 " vinyl single!
Here's the cover artwork for our first 2021 release, juicy 7" vinyl split UK/USA Single returning the favour with our friends  the Detroit Riddim Crew!! 

Most vinyl production is on a go slow at the moment so Covid regulations willing, we will have it out ASAP. 
Great art by Yorkie Art & Design. 

The 7 "vinyl for Rude Boy Rude Girl is on its way..... But excited to announce 2021 new material. 
" Eyes Of A Child" is from our forthcoming album "Northern Gods" whilst DRCs "Look Around " was recorded in Jamaica!

Stay tuned for more info as we get it!

Here's a little video clip recording of Friday 11th December's interview on BBC Radio Tees  Mid Morning with Gary Philipson.

Features a quick chat and a play of the new single out on December 19th on all formats!

Cheers to Gary & Sian and the BBC.

The music media are responding very favourably to our new single offering "Rude Boy Rude Girl"

The single, which is due out on December 19th on all formats, is a ray of sunshine after a year of troubled times.

Frivolous maybe, but lets lighten the mood and sing along.

Here's a couple of reviews - 

Stephen Shafer (The Duff Guide To Ska)

" The Skapones new single "Rude Boy Rude Girl" (7" vinyl single/CD single/digital, Cosa Nostra Records, 2020) is tailor-made to lift one's mood and lend some much-needed hope and joy during these crap plague times (it's an updated "pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and do the ska" morale-booster!). "Rude Boy Rude Girl" is a fantastic, super-upbeat, sing-along-to-the-chorus 2 Tone/calypso cut celebrating ska's sound, vision, and attitude ("White boy, black girl/2 Tone through and through/Dr. Martens, pork pie hats/Tonic suits and monkey boots/They do the ska/They do the rocksteady/Rude boy, rude girl get ready...Whatcha gonna do/When the ska takes hold of you?"). My wonderful former bandmate Pamela Anderson-Buckley of Rude Boy George provides steel drum-sounding keys, and Carlos Russell of Argentina's Malambo Ska contributes percussion. The flip is a version of The Skapones' terrific fourth single/theme song, "Skapones A Go Go (Live)."

ORIGINAL ARTICLE LINK - DUFF GUIDE TO SKA - SKAPONES REVIEW DEC 2020

Guy Shankland ( Original Rock)

" Rude Boy Rude Girl’ out on December 19th. 

I need some fucking sunshiiiine… Christ, just a glimmer, a glimmer of hope in this Tier 1-2-3 Covid kissed madness we live in today. Then, as if on queue The Skapones release their knees up, chin out, sky blue single ‘Rude Girl Rude Boy’. Suddenly for just a couple of minutes the clouds part and beers are poured lazily into chilled glasses as the band add a healthy splash of calypso to this already infectious 2-Tone sound. ‘Rude Boy Rude Girl’ is a much-needed distraction from Cummings, Johnson, Rabb and Hancock shit show we are being visually force-fed over our daily cornflakes. Let the skanking and smiling commence! The B-side is a live version of ‘Skapones A-Go-Go’ which is another reason to go out and support these salt of the earth Rudies. 

‘Rude Boy Rude Girl’ is out on Dec19th on all the usual streaming platforms"

ORIGNAL ARTICLE LINK - ORIGINAL ROCK SKAPONES REVIEW

*** NEW SINGLE NEWS *** 

Yes! In an attempt to bring sunshine into peoples lives,we are issuing 

" RUDE BOY RUDE GIRL" as our new single!!! 

TO BE RELEASED IN DECEMBER ON 7" VINYL / CD/ DIGI DOWNLOAD. 

We were going to issue "Eyes Of A Child" but that will appear on the new album "Northern Gods". 

RB RG is a calypso-y, uplifting tune. 

Let The Skapones take you away from the nightmare that is 2020 for 3 heavenly mins to  a world less stressful. 

Mixed and mastered by Paul Ayriss and featuring our friends Pamela Anderson-Buckley of Rude Boy George in the USA and Carlos Russell of Malambo Ska in Argentina on percussion! 

Single Art by YORKIE coming soon