THE SKAPONES

The band together one day back in 2013 in Darlington, the market town based in the Tees Valley in the north east of England.

Some highlights so far -

They have supported all the major big ska players on the scene and as well as some the original ska innovators from the 1960s. They have also played with members of The Specials, Bad Manners & The Selecter. They also have played at festivals such as the House Of Fun, Specialized, Stone Valley, YSA Invasion 12, the Great Northern Mod & Ska Festival, The Lindisfarne Festival, the Woodhorn Festival and the prestigious gig at the Feuerwerks Open Air Festival at The Reduit in Mainz, Germany amongst many other successful gigs including a fabulous gig in Gdansk, Poland. 

They have recorded tracks in the past for the Specialized Project that raises money for many different causes here in the UK & Uganda-  They've also released 2 CD EPs at the start of their career, "The Tommy Gun EP" and " Rudys Return " EP which featured Lynval Golding & Jon Read of The Specials. They have also played many festivals with and January 2020 saw them just edged out in the semi-final heats to play the prestigious Glastonbury Festival- into the last few from 1000s.

They 've played at prestigious venues like 100 Club, The Dublin Castle, Hope & Anchor in London and played the 100 Club supporting Lee Thompson of Madness in 2017 with the band The Silencerz. They returned to The Dublin Castle where Lynval Golding of The Specials joined them onstage and Lee Thompson of Madness danced in the crowd. In January 2018 saw the  release the title track of their forthcoming album "From Cradle To Grave" which hit number one in the UK Reggae Charts and this was followed up in May 2018 by their second single "The Ghost In Me" which hit the Top 10 in the UK Reggae Charts - a fantastic start for the original material and this was followed by a Top 5 placing in the reggae charts for the follow up "Betrayal Of Trust" .The debut album "Cradle To Grave" was released in September 2018 and sold out the Cd runs three times over and was followed by the 12" vinyl gatefold album which has continued to sell well, picking up rave reviews in magazines such as Vive Le Rock and other online blogs and sites. In December 2018 a remix of their track "Skapones A Go Go" hit the No,1 spot in the UK Reggae Charts, knocking The Specials from the top spot. Our last single "When Its Gone Its Gone" also hit the Top 3. We have undergone a massive UK, Ireland, Europe tour in 2019 and spent 2 weeks touring the USA in August 2019 which resulted in them being invited back in 2020 BUT THE HIGHLIGHT WAS BEING MADE SUPPORT FOR THE SPECIALS ON THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR IN MAY 2019 - WHAT AN OCCASION

They have released 21 singles in on their discography to date,  and In 2020, the band released their first ever USA release in a split 7" vinyl shared with the Detroit Riddim Crew which saw the track "The Girl Inside" which simultaneously was picked up by Spinning Riot Records in Mexico for Mexican distribution. A cassette version of "Cradle To Grave" also was released in 2020 as was their documentary "Way Out West" , the story of their 2 week tour of the USA. The cassette sold out, and a book about the USA trip and Specials tour was published and released to great reviews. They have also been included in many Ska music compilation albums

2022 saw the title track of their 2nd album "Northern Gods" released as the 14th single whilst they were touring the country as support to Dave Wakeling's The Beat on their 40th Anniversary Tour.

2023 amazingly, saw the band celebrate 10 years.

The bands second album “Northern Gods” was released and was critically acclaimed in 2023 and the band jetted out to again tour the USA , on the East Coast on this occasion

As well as dates gigs around the UK, the band embarked on a 2nd USA tour, staying on the East Coast of the States and opened the humongous Supernova Ska Festival on the beach in Fort Monroe,Virginia.

In a great end to the anniversary year, the single “Windrush” was released ,topping the UK Reggae Charts and hitting the National Charts, making the tune the best selling Skapones single to date.

 A brand new 3rd album “Ascension” was released to rave reviews in early 2024 and a brand new single not featured on the “Ascension” album called “The Fear” was issued in March 2025. Album No 5 is due out in late 2025