Skampida was born in Bogota, Colombia in 1998 as an innovative and diverse fusion of Colombian folkloric rhythms, and urban sounds like ska, punk, klezmer, polka, rockability, powercore, hip hop including gypsy influences and drum n’ bass. In 2003 the “Stereoblaster” tour took Skampida to over 20 cities in Colombia. For more than 12 years, the band has performed all over Colombia, including a two-year tour in the United States that garnered them instant recognition in important cities like Miami and New York. Skampida has shared stages with band like ALICIA KEYS, WHITE LION, OUTERNATIONAL, DEVOTCHKA, LILA DOWNS, CULTURA PROFETICA, FERMIN MUGURUZA, LENINGRAD, GOGOL BORDELLA, AMIGOS INVISIBLES, KIMIA NAMOKILI, SKINNERBOX, LOS PERICOS, RUDIE CREW, SPAM ALL STARS, AUTENTICOS, DECADENTES, KING CHANGO and others. In 2010, the band is ready again to conquer North America as part of their promotional tour “Zombie Policers” of the new album, that began in their hometown with some national festivals, passes through Canada (Victoria Ska Fest) and will travel to a great number of clubs in the United States.

Nominations and Awards

2001 Rock al Parque (the biggest free entrance rock festival in Latin America) Nominated for “Revelation Band” of the festival

2002 Nominated by Much Music Channel for best ska and reggae video for their F.D.T. single

2003 Nominated by Shock Magazine for best ska and reggae band and best live performance

2004 Best Music Video Award: “Best Ska and Reggae” Video by Much Music

2005 Winner of the Best Latin band in Miami by New Times

2010 the top 10 of 2010 by Shock Magazine

http://skampida.jimdo.com>>

Swami ('So Who AM I?') is the 21st century hybrid sound of displaced souls... Blending their British-Indian bhangra roots with a healthy upbringing of alternative electronic club mayhem laced with bi-lyrical hip-pop conversation unlike any other...Call it whatever you want, but prepare to DesiRock...Award-winning producer Diamond 'Swami' Duggal started the group Swami with drummer and brother Simon ‘Subs’ Duggal, vocalist Taz Singh and Indian percussionist Kam Bura in 1997. The band performed a number of European shows before releasing their debut cult album Desi Nu Skool Beatz (1999). The album brought together a new open-mindedness of influences from the Indian sub-continent and the alternative, electronic club mayhem of the west unlike any predecessor. The new hybrid sound of “Desi Beats’ was born and the guitar surfing electronic title track ‘Mehbooba’ went on to feature in the Olsen Twins Warner Brothers movie ‘New York Minute’ (2003). Constantly pushing the boundaries of international music, Swami's follow-up album So Who AM I? (2005) scaled new heights of mind-altering musical richness. The title track DesiRock embraced clubs the world over with DJ Swami’s unique leftfield electronic beats and anthemic bhangra melodies and reached even wider audiences in the EA Games FIFA World Cup 2006 video game as well as the UK movie ‘Mischief Night’ (2006). The release of EQUALIZE (2007) ventured way beyond Swami’s London studios with a new found excitement of globe hopping melodies, crossing rhythms and languages unlike any predecessor. With their core trademark electronic bhangra sound, EQUALIZE went much further afield interacting with the parallels of North African hip-hop of France, the Zulu Rn’B of South Africa, the black soul and rap of east coast USA, as well as the sounds of their London via Delhi DJ hybrid electronic mixing…. The result was a unique commercial edged pop record with the lead track Hey Hey bringing a heavy-hitting unstoppable funky electronic desi dancefloor groove…Now, for 2010, Swami bring together their eclectic musical journey so far with a collection of their most popular songs alongside two brand new songs simply entitled 53431. With a touring line-up featuring Diamond on guitars, keys, vocoder and decks, vocalists Sups, S-Endz and Liana, Pravin on drums, Bobby P on dhol and Az on bass, be prepared for some energy-driven live shows across the globe…With the futuristic music video for the 53431 lead track Electro Jugni already chalking up half a million plays online in just a few weeks and an alternate English video entitled She's Mine hitting screens soon, the futuristic space journey of Swami’s 53431 is here…

http://www.myspace.com/swamimusic>>

Pigs is Canada's most authentic Pink Floyd Tribute. Formed in 2008 in Victoria, British Columbia, the band have been amazing audiences ever since with their dynamic re-creation of one of the world's favourite rock groups. Pigs' claim to fame is their authenticity, which means looking, sounding and feeling like the real Pink Floyd in their hey-day: the 70's. An audience can expect long, pyschedelic jams to such songs as 'Shine on You Crazy Diamond' and ' Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun' as well as impassioned performances of emotional material like 'Comfortably Numb' and 'Us and Them'. Audiences lose themselves in the band's lights and visuals, which give the music an otherworldly feel. With the passing of Richard Wright in 2008, fans of Pink Floyd lost hope of ever again seeing their favourite band re-united. Pigs offers the next best thing: an authentic look back into the breathtaking past of one of the world's most timeless bands.

www.canadianpinkfloyd.com/>>

Velvet, simply put, is a 'must see' Vancouver Island dance band with their wildly popular residency at Steamers in Victoria being a case in point. Performing at the Big Time Out 08 and packing out the Waverley  the last time they played there, this band has  obviously made fans here in the Comox Valley. The legendary groove guru's continue to experiment with live psychedelic house and dub.  The band also drops live re- mixes of songs from founder Kuba Oms' solo debut record, 'How Much Time'. Kuba is playlisted on discerning stations world wide and has recently seen his music included in film sound tracks and major market compilations.  His stage persona and distinctive vocal strength has audiences returning consistently for his dynamic and well paced shows. Velvet has played with the likes of The Chemical Brothers, DJ Shadow, Mark Farina, Matisyahu, Champion and more...

http://kubaoms.com>>

Two time East Coast Music Association nominee and two time CBC Rising Star Award winner, Ross Neilsen, eats, breathes and sleeps the blues. Friday June 4th he delivers the goods at the Waverley Hotel in Cumberland.

After bursting onto the scene in late 2005, Ross Neilsen has worked hard at maintaining his profile, making sure he isn't lost in the "blues shuffle". This self-managed artist books and performs over 150 shows annually at various venues around Eastern Canada including: Clubs, Theatres (Playhouse in Fredericton, Imperial Theatre in Saint John), and Festivals such as The Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in Fredericton and The Dutch Mason Blues Festival as well as The esteemed Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia Ontario.

Ross's debut album, Where I'm From, received many accolades. Among them, an East Coast Music Award Nomination for Best Blues Recording as well as being featured in many publications and receiving much support from Canadian Radio confirming that he would be an artist to watch.

With the release of his third CD, REDEMPTION, Ross and his band, The Sufferin' Bastards have taken no prisoners. The third release features a songwriter who has matured beyond his years delivering an emotional rollercoaster ride of primal Blues Rock.

REDEMPTION has  garnered rave reviews. Never one to rest, Ross has set a solid goal for 2010 -a National tour that will take he and the Sufferin' Bastards to every Province. Ross will be breaking new barriers and doing what he loves most, taking his music to new listeners everywhere.

www.myspace.com/rossneilsen>>

CAROLYN MARK

Carolyn did brief stints in such bands as The Metronome Cowboys and The Fixin's before, in 2000, making her Mint Records debut with her first solo album, Party Girl. Since then, and with the help of a revolving cast of Can-Country super stars including, but not limited to, Tolan McNeil, Garth Johnson, Ford Pier, Nathan Tinkham, Corb Lund, NQ Arbuckle, .. Luke Doucet, Amy Honey, Greg MacDonald, Neko Case and Carey Mercer, she has released five more highly acclaimed albums. As well, she has also travelled thousands of miles entertaining crowds of 4 to 4000... touring Canada, the United States, the UK, Norway and Italy. She has shared the stage with such talented musicians as Jenny Whitely, Hank & Lily, Luther Wright, Sarah Harmer, Kelly Hogan, Lederhosen Lucil, Geoff Berner, Joel Plaskett, The Handsome Family, Neil Hamburger, JT and The Clouds, The Shiftless Rounders, NQ Arbuckle, Wanda Jackson, The Waco Brothers, The Sadies and Blue Rodeo.

LUTHER WRIGHT and the WRONGS

Luther Wright has been writing, recording and performing music for over 16 years now. In 1994 he joined up with Sarah Harmer to play lead guitar in the Canadian, pop-rock band, "Weeping Tile" (WEA/Atlantic). During the next 5 years of full-on touring and recording Luther and his roots compadres formed the now-renowned, country/punkgrass road daemons, "Luther Wright & The Wrongs".

Known on one hand for their brilliantly executed, country/bluegrass reworking of Pink Floyd’s classic The Wall, Luther and the band have also recorded and released three all-original albums, Hurtin' For Certain (1997), Rogers Waltz (1999), the valentine gone awry, Guitar Pickin' Martyrs (2003), and the recently released, Instrumentality. Also to boot, they made two cds of original childrens music under the guise of Butterfingers.

From its release internationally in 2001, Rebuild the Wall (Universal/Backporch), opened up doors for 'the Wrongs to play over 500 shows of old-country, inspired music across the continent.

The JACK GRACE BAND

A singer, songwriter and guitarist who has made a career out of following no one’s rules but his own is probably going to keep doing his thing until his liver lays down the law.

Upon releasing his first solo recording, Introducing the Songs of Jack Grace, many noted the songs had a decidedly country feel. “Fine, call it country if you want,” he said at the time. “What you label it doesn’t mean all that much to me.” What it really meant was that there were new rules to be broken. Country? Fine. Let’s do a concept album called the Martini Cowboy, and throw in a bossa nova number with lap steel front and center.

The band members come from all walks of life: jazz, pop, rock, blues -- you name it. Along for the ride on this musical journey are some of NYC’s finest. Bassist, vocalist and wife Daria has lent her considerable talents to the chamber pop group Melomane and her own quintet, the Pre-War ponies.  Bruce Martin from the Tom Tom Club also helps keep time a lot of the time.  Bill Malchow plays organ, piano and accordion, cracks jokes and sings a bit too. Drinking Songs for Lovers is largely autobiographical. Jack didn’t intend for it to happen this way. He compiled his best-loved new tunes as he readied himself for the studio, and realized, not quite to his surprise, that nearly all of them seemed to revolve around a common theme: alcohol.

A consummate live performer, lyricist, singer and guitarist, Jack is at the helm of a powerhouse band that plays kick the can with any musical genre that it stumbles across. Intelligence, humor and unpredictable cross-pollinations of musical categories await.

Needless to say this triple header promises to deliver an evening of musical chemistry that will rival most. The antics begin at 9:30 pm and we are stoked.

www.myspace.com/lutherwright>>

Five Alarm Funk is Vancouver's own afro-funk orchestra. For more than four years the band has brought their relentless grooves to clubs and major festivals across Western Canada. Intense horn lines and percolating afro-beat guitar combined with the interplay of four percussionists create an unstoppable dance party. The 11-piece phenomenon has performed over 140 shows throughout Western Canada and the U.S., sharing stages with such artists as Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Herbaliser, Sly & Robbie, Fishbone and Xavier Rudd. In the process the band has built an enthusiastic fan base, large enough to sell-out the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver on numerous occasions. Voodoo Hairdoo, the band’s second studio album, captures the boundless energy of Five Alarm Funk’s live show. It is a journey from fast funk and dance-crazed Latin to epic reggae and thunderous Afro-beat. The title track blends a tight funky groove with punchy horn shots, searing lead guitar and outerspace keyboards. The song then shifts gears, dropping to a percussion groove that builds to an epic Afro-beat climax. “Keeps Me Up At Night” is a slap-bass driven, heavy funk workout reminiscent of Earth Wind & Fire. The song features guest appearances by soul-singing powerhouses Tim Fuller and Dawn Pemberton, adding a new element to the band’s trademark instrumental grooves. “We spent over three weeks in the studio to record and mix the 10 brand new heavy-hitting tracks,” says Justin Kennedy, one of the band’s four percussionists. “We were able to isolate each part and make the grooves pop like Orville Redenbacher’s freshest kernels. This album will make the land that rhythm forgot remember.”

Five Alarm has played the Big Time Out and 4 sold out shows here in the Valley.If you've been there you know. If not come check it out. This is the band in demand.

www.fivealarmfunk.com/>>

Delhi 2 Dublin continues to break the mould with the May 4th release of its new genre-busting album, Planet Electric. It’s as if the band has been sent on a mission to further spread their sound beyond the planet and out into the galaxy. They describe Planet Electric “as the buzz of the world plugged into a large socket, electrifying the people and charging up their energy”. To capture the dynamism of their live shows, all of the tracks on the album were road-tested for months before recording. They also spent ten days and nights writing the material as a group, an approach that has led to this album being much more representative of the band as a whole. The icing on the cake was mixing the album with noted UK producer Diamond “DJ Swami” Duggal (Apache Indian/Maxi Priest/Nusrat Fateh Ali).

The five members of Vancouver-based Delhi 2 Dublin come from different backgrounds and different musical influences. A live collaboration put together in 2006 as a one-off performance piece for a club night called Delhi to Dublin was so well-received that requests for additional performances led to the official formation of Delhi 2 Dublin. “Not being able to fit into any specific genre allows the band to create whatever we like and not be judged for it. Our audience expects nothing less.” The band finds this advantageous for their live show as it enables them to create a flow to their sets much like a DJ would for the dance floor. Tarun Nayar, Sanjay Seran, Kytami, Andrew Kim and Ravi Binning create a heady and energetic mash-up of Bhangra, Celtic, Dub Reggae and Electronica. “Audiences love to see a band transcending stereotypes and letting the music speak for itself”.

http://www.delhi2dublin.com/>>

This is one of the HOTTEST ACTS IN THE VALLEY. The last show sold out. So, if you missed the last one, here’s your chance to see what amazingly sexy and talented pole dance girls we have in the Valley! Performing over 12 routines, with surprise acts for the start and end of the show, along with sexy sounds from local DJ Miss Christina. There’s door prizes and raffles of fun stuff too! Girls, if you’re interested in finding out what pole fitness is all about, this will certainly give you a taste of what you could be doing. Guys, sorry there won’t be full nudity, but this is definitely an adult show that you’ll kick yourself if you miss. This is a benefit show to raise money for one of the pole studio’s students, Kat - originally from Australia, who is looking to find a way to be able to stay. Some are calling the show the ‘Keep Kat in Kanada’ benefit. For more information call 250-702-2691.

www.canada.com/comoxvalleyecho/story.html?id...e941...>>

Both in the reproduction of their sound and awesome stage show. Every detail has been painstakingly reproduced, from Angus' school boy outfit and signature Gibson SG guitar  to a singer who sounds so hauntingly like Brian Johnson and Bon Scott that you'd swear they were backstage helping  out! This band has thrilled audiences with their meticulous renditions of one of the biggest stadium acts of all time.  We have had numerous requests to bring them to the Valley and Friday, May 7th is the time to 'shake it all night long' at the Waverley Hotel in Cumberland.  The stage has been reinforced and tiedowns to the roof have been added in preparation for the rock'n'roll invasion of Thunderstruck. The show starts at 10 P.M. and if you are an AC/DC fan this is your night.



http://www.myspace.com/thunderstruckacdctribute>>