For 31 years, the NYC-based and critically acclaimed Slackers have been touring the world with their blend of Ska, Reggae, and Soul.
Since 1991, the Slackers have released fifteen albums and countless singles, while their 1000s of live performances feed their fans with energetic sets of ecstatic music.

The press state that the Slackers are “the best ska band in the world” (Rude International), “the pick of the US crop” (Metal Hammer), “the sound of New York’ (New York Times), “is about as close to perfect as it gets” (Ink 19), and “one of the best bands in the United States” (axs.com).

In April 2022, The Slackers released a new album, “Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya” (Pirates Press) which quickly shot to the top of the US billboard charts. This is the first time that a Slackers’ album has charted! Ironically after 30 years as a band, this qualified them as a Billboard ‘new artist.’ The Washington Post noted that the Slackers “remain at the top of their game.”

The chart topping performance of “Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya” capped a 2 year comeback of the Slackers. When Covid stopped live shows in 2020, the Slackers pivoted to livestreams and made 5 full band concerts that were broadcast internationally. After the shows, they stayed in the studio and recorded the tunes that became Sunlight.

Returning to live gigging in the 2nd half of 2021, the band celebrated their 30th anniversary with 30 shows across the United States and Canada.

In 2022, the Slackers have 90 shows booked in the United States, Canada, UK, and Europe. At 31 years old, the band has been renewed and is looking to grow their cult following into its 4th decade.

Put together top musicians from Washington, DC’s Jazz and Reggae scenes, give them the recipe for the original Jamaican Ska, throw a heavy dose of vintage Soul in the mix, shake well, and the result is Eastern Standard Time.

Los Vicios de Papá drops immigrant beat with a passion for reggae, ska and cumbia. Our lyrics stem from our struggling &undocumented youth experience. LVDP was born out of a crumbling public education system and failing immigration policy in Chicago’s Back of the Yards hood.

The Scotch Bonnets are punky reggae rockers from Baltimore, Maryland. Their sound is an infectious blend of Jamaican-inspired grooves with American rock and R&B stylings. The Scotch Bonnets’ leader and visionary is Lady Hatchet a.k.a. Kristin Forbes. A formidable triple threat as lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter, she leads a formitable  quinet drawn from the Mid-Atlantic music scene.

DJ Chuck Wren has hosted the ska radio show “Everything Off-Beat” across the Chicago dial since 1989, currently airing Sundays at 9 PM on WLUW-FM 88.7. Since 1993, his label JUMP UP RECORDS ( www.jumpuprecords.com ) has released over 100 albums including ones by local faves Deal’s Gone Bad, The Drastics, and Green Room Rockers. His monthly night at Delialh’s is Chicago’s longest running ska/reggae night at 18 years, and when he spins you see piles of piles of original Jamaican 45s sprawled all over the place.