Melbourne Ska Orchestra is fast becoming an institution in the Australian music scene, with recent performances at Byron Bay Bluesfest, WOMAD, Apollo Bay & Caloundra Music festival proving the international calibre of this mighty 30 piece orchestra. Imagine the force of more than a dozen horn players, a mean rhythm section, percussionist, 2 organists and 3 singers and you may begin to understand what the skankin powerhouse, Melbourne Ska Orchestra is.

Fronted by Nicky Bomba (Bomba, John Butler Trio, Bustamento), with his professional, fun and impulsive conducting style, Melbourne Ska Orchestra (MSO) is a fun-loving big band experience, with music from the golden ska period of 1963 through to modern day classics. MSO’s repertoire covers tracks from 1963 (Skatalites, Wailers) through to the British Two Tone craze (Madness, Specials) and anything positive or significant in between. With original tunes, reggae, rocksteady classics and Latin-based ska in the mix, MSO energises audiences, making dancing compulsory!

Members hail from some of Australia’s leading ska and reggae bands, with past shows featuring special guests including Joe Camilleri, Jali Buba Kuyateh (Senegal), Dereb Desalegn (Ethiopia), Nadee (Haiti) and international reggae greats such as Carlos Malcolm, Dawn Penn and Stranger Cole.