As the Ska and Reggae FestivalB次元官网网址檚 celebrates a milestone in June with their 25th anniversary, The SlackerB次元官网网址檚 will get the honour of playing at the event for the fourth time.

For a 33-year-old band who are known as true students of old school ska (Edmonton Sun) and hailed as the ska stalwarts who keep on going (Washington Post), theyB次元官网网址檝e seen thousands of stages in their time. But saxophonist Dave Hillyard has good things to say about VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 festival.

B次元官网网址淰ictoria is like one of those ends of the earth before you jump into the ocean kind of places, you know? So itB次元官网网址檚 nice. ItB次元官网网址檚 a really genial vibe. And I think also, too, that theyB次元官网网址檝e been building an actual community around Ska and Reggae. For a place where there isnB次元官网网址檛 really that many people to bring in, to make such a large festival, itB次元官网网址檚 really quite a testament that they create their following.B次元官网网址�

The Slackers formed in Manhattan, New York in 1991, and have since released 15 albums and countless singles. Notably, their second album, Redlight (1997), was part of the New York City ska revival and ranked seventh in Billboard editor Carrie BellB次元官网网址檚 The Year in Music (1997) list. The albumB次元官网网址檚 track with the same name charted at number 116 that year in CMJ Radio Top 200. Having been around for this long, Hillyard said they are always on the hunt for how to keep things interesting and the content fresh, including trying to play new sets each time theyB次元官网网址檙e on stage.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got about like 200 songs. I think some of our fans get excited, but oh, what are they going to do next? But I think at this point, a song doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to have a certain style. YouB次元官网网址檙e always searching for something new, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what keeps us interested in it.B次元官网网址�

Drawing on the vibrant roots of Jamaican ska and reggae, The Slackers have always leaned into their own American influence.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e very aware that we all grew up in the States, and we did things with the New York accent,B次元官网网址� Hillyard said. B次元官网网址淰icB次元官网网址檚 singing in his actual accent, it makes it sound American right off the bat. So, we write stuff that affects our lives. WeB次元官网网址檙e not writing about imaginary stuff that weB次元官网网址檝e never lived.B次元官网网址�

The groupB次元官网网址檚 most recent track, Kill You, tackles American gun culture.

B次元官网网址淲e have lots of commentary on contemporary politics,B次元官网网址� Hillyard said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e always had politics in our brain, and our role models, people like Joe Strummer from The Clash, or Bob Marley, saw something, they wrote about it B次元官网网址� I think just to say, B次元官网网址極h, itB次元官网网址檚 just about relaxing and feeling goodB次元官网网址� is to take music out of life B次元官网网址� I like to think itB次元官网网址檚 healing, but it can also be news, or it can be storytelling. I donB次元官网网址檛 want music to be about nothing. ItB次元官网网址檚 part of society.B次元官网网址�

While the band is now a pillar for many up-and-coming musicians, including those who will be playing at Ska Fest, Hillyard recalls how his own influences shaped him.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always listened to Reggae since I was a kid because my dad listened to Eclipse and Bob Marley and stuff like that.

B次元官网网址淎nd I guess you learn stuff from the elders. I was lucky that we had people like Glen Adams from the Upsetters, and Roland Alphonso and Tommy McCook from the Skatalites that were around. Larry McDonald, the percussionist, was around. So, as I was learning how to play it, there were people to guide me.B次元官网网址�

While he doesnB次元官网网址檛 know how the genre will evolve, Hillyard knows The Slackers have their own path carved and show no signs of stopping soon with a new single set to come out in September and about 12 other songs in the works.

B次元官网网址淎ll I know is usually when things are popular, itB次元官网网址檚 bad for me. WeB次元官网网址檙e on our own trajectory,B次元官网网址� Hillyard said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had so many long-term supporters over the years. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the main thing B次元官网网址� the ups and downs of the larger world donB次元官网网址檛 matter as much because weB次元官网网址檝e been working on building a community.B次元官网网址�

Building up a fan base comes from B次元官网网址渁 lot of a lot of a lot of touringB次元官网网址� and connecting with fans.

B次元官网网址淭hat was one of the things that came out of the pandemic was just being online, being in touch with people B次元官网网址� It felt like in some ways I was closer to the fans, maybe just because we had a moment to talk to each other.B次元官网网址�

One of the live streams they did was the Ska and Reggae Broadcast System stream in August 2020.

As they gear up for their this time in-person performance at the Ska and Reggae Festival at the Victoria Curling Club on June 21, Hillyard expresses his excitement for reconnecting with fans and immersing himself in the vibrant music scene of Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking forward to seeing you guys. I always enjoy being in Victoria.B次元官网网址�