Take the deep soulful rhythms of Jamaican and Caribbean music, combine them with the diversity of jazz, and the energy of punk rock.

Then throw in the influence of calypso, mento, and R&B. Back the whole thing up with a large band complete with horn sections, and you’ve got what is arguably the most memorable musical genre anywhere – ska.

It’s the music that, for the past 27 years, Dane Roberts and his crew have brought to Victoria in the form of the Ska and Reggae Fest. This year, the festival will take place from June 24 to 28. Although the main stage is once again at Ship Point on the Inner Harbour, the celebration encompasses secondary stages at a variety of venues around downtown Victoria, including The Waverly Hotel, Lucky Bar, the Rickshaw Theatre and Studio 919.

“This is a truly international offering of the best of ska. We’re bringing in groups from nine countries around the world with bands coming from Brazil, Germany, Mexico, England, New Zealand and Italy,” said Roberts. “There is so much diversity in the bands that are coming to the shows this year that I’ve no doubt that anyone who loves ska music, and even those who are not as familiar with ska, will find themselves blown away by the incredible talent we’ve assembled.”

This year, the acts will include Lagwagon, Souls of Mischief, Charly Black, the Bedouin Soundclash, and The Black Seeds.

The truth is that there is a part of the population that already loves ska without ever having identified the music with that genre. That is due, in part, to the evolution of the music and the development of the sounds.

“Ska originated in Jamaica in the 60s as an offshoot of American jazz and calypso,” explained Roberts. “It had this 2/4 offbeat with about 120 beats per minute, a walking bass line, and was most often accompanied by brass instruments like trumpets and trombones.”

In those early days, the ska scene was ruled by iconic figures like Prince Buster, Toots and the Maytals, and The Skatalites.

“If you listened to early Bob Marley, they were doing a ska form. With Marley, the reggae influences really helped to spread the popularity of the music. It was all happening at a time of independence for Jamaica from Britain.”

By the ‘70s, bands in the UK, including The Specials, Madness and The Selecter, fused ska with punk rock elements, and the music was ideal for the delivery of social messaging.

“There was a lot of racial tension in Britain, and ska delivered a political message of acceptance and diversity,” said Roberts. “There were mixed race bands, which was radical at the time, but ska made it happen.”

By the late 1980s and ‘90s, the music had migrated to the USA with bands like No Doubt, Reel Big Fish, and Less Than Jake incorporating ska elements into their music. Ska was blended with everything from punk to pop, but whatever genre it infected came away with a richer sound than ever.

“The music is incredible, of course, but I want to stress that there are a number of free shows at Ship Point, so people can get a taste of the music,” said Roberts.

“We also have some great food, and all our drinks are under eight bucks a drink. All in all, the festival is a time of fun and character that keeps people coming back.

“We anticipate seeing about 14,000 people coming to the shows this year, so we’re obviously doing something that people love.”

More information on Ska Fest, including schedules, locations, and a chance to buy tickets, can be found at https://www.victoriaskafest.ca/.