DOORS 8.00PM // SHOWTIME 8.30PM The mighty MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA are gearing up for a wicked show celebrating their 15 year anniversary at the place it all started…The ESPY! Gershwin Room! w/ special guests The Moonhops

In 2003 the band performed their debut show to a sold out crowd, it was supposed to be a one-off event…but the rest is history! Since then the band has gone from strength to strength exploring new territories and releasing a bucketload of songs. The orchestra have carved a solid reputation as one of Australia’s leading live acts, flagbearers for the Australian Ska Scene and recognized around the world as part of a new international Ska sound. Following their debut release in 2013 the group toured the globe playing international festivals including Glastonbury, Montreal Jazz, Boomtown and Edinburgh as well as major Festivals in Australia (Splendour, Vivid, Falls, Bluesfest, Queenscliff etc). Nominated 6 times for ARIA awards including Best Live Act and Best Debut album, the orchestra went on to win the coveted ARIA in 2016 for Best World Music Album for their second release ‘Sierra Kilo Alpha’. Both albums received the AGE VICTORIA MUSIC AWARD for Best Global Reggae Album in 2013 and 2016. In 2017 they were nominated for another ARIA for their USB spaceship release ‘Saturn Return’. Overseas, the band won the Best International Reggae Album in the REGGAE STEADY SKA AWARDS and was given respectful kudos when 3 of their original songs were used in the UK feature film about ska called ‘Beverley’. The orchestra kicked off this year with a serious bang by committing to record and release One Song Per week for One Whole Year. That’s 52 songs. It’s been a mammoth task that pays tribute to the Jamaican Sound System phenomena, where artists would record and release tracks on a weekly basis. The response has been massive with far reaching DJ’s from Latin America, UK and Germany jumping on board. The Espy gig will celebrate the final weeks of this crazy adventure. Don’t miss out…expect a cast of thousands onstage! People are encouraged to dress up for the evening with cool door prizes.The night is also being filmed for a documentary about the growing ska scene in Melbourne.