Ska Boom-Episode 015: The International Ska Festival of 1990

Ska Boom-Episode 015: The International Ska Festival of 1990

Author: Marc Wasserman December 18, 2020 Duration: 16:38
In this episode, I look back at the International Ska Festival held at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA on Earth Day in April of 1990. The all day festival with a sold-out crowd estimated at 10,000, is a key event in the development of a uniquely American version of ska. First, the line-up included a number of leading American ska bands featured in my book including The Uptones, Gangster Fun and Let’s Go Bowling – who were then at the forefront of the late 80s American ska scene. ...

Marc Wasserman has been living and breathing American ska since helping to found Bigger Thomas, New Jersey's first ska band, back in 1988. That front-row perspective to the scene's growth, combined with his work as an author of books like *Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History*, fuels this deeply personal Ska Boom-An American Ska & Reggae Podcast. Think of it as the audio companion to those written histories, but with the volume cranked up and the stories told in real voices. Each episode is built on conversations-sometimes with musicians you know, sometimes with the crucial behind-the-scenes figures you don't-that trace the unique and often overlooked American journey of these genres. You'll hear firsthand accounts that span from the early underground clubs to the mainstream explosions, discussions on the music's cultural impact, and analysis of the sounds that defined generations. It's a mix of history, commentary, and interview, all filtered through the experience of someone who wasn't just watching from the crowd but was actively helping to build the stage. The result is a podcast that feels less like a lecture and more like a series of late-night talks with the people who made the scene happen, preserving the energy and anecdotes that might otherwise be lost.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Ska Boom - An American Ska & Reggae Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Soul Salvation - A Gen X Love Letter To The English Beat: Cribabi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:49
Welcome back to the Ska Boom podcast! This season is called Soul Salvation and its the companion to my new book “Soul Salvation – A Gen X Love Letter To The English Beat." Through the book and this podcast I’m telling th…
Soul Salvation - A Gen X Love Letter To The English Beat: Fried [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:02
Welcome back to the Ska Boom podcast! This season is called Soul Salvation and its the companion to my new book “Soul Salvation – A Gen X Love Letter To The English Beat." Through the book and this podcast I’m telling th…
Soul Salvation - A Gen X Love Letter To The English Beat: Solo Records [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
Welcome back to the Ska Boom podcast! This season is called Soul Salvation and its the companion to my new book “Soul Salvation – A Gen X Love Letter To The English Beat." Through the book and this podcast I’m telling th…
Soul Salvation - A Gen X Love Letter To The English Beat: Special Beat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:39
Welcome back to the Ska Boom podcast! This season is called Soul Salvation and its the companion to my new book “Soul Salvation – A Gen X Love Letter To The English Beat." Through the book and this podcast I’m telling th…