THE SLACKERS

For more than 28 years, the NYC-based and critically acclaimed Slackers have been touring the world with their blend of Ska, Reggae, and Soul.

The Slackers are a sextet based out of New York City. They mix together ska, reggae, soul, and rock n roll. Balancing strong rhythms with classic songwriting and poignant contemporary lyrics.

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 agrees: Modern Vinyl says “For some bands, hitting 25 years together seems light years away. For The Slackers, it’s a cause for celebration. The band is deeply rooted within the ska movement, while their ‘Jamaican Rock n’ Roll’ sound sets them apart from many bands today”

Other 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 recent years, their festival performances have included Warped Tour 2019, Punk Rock Bowling, Fest Florida, Boomtown Fair, Rebellion Fest, Mighty Sounds, Shamballa, Pouzza Fest, Austin Reggae Fest, and many others.

Their headlining dates in 2019 began with tours of Canada, the American midwest, and Florida. In June, their ‘big slack giveback’ tour hit free outdoor concert spaces across the USA.

Their fall 2019 European tour had 27 dates including 7 sellouts in towns like Manchester, Vienna, and Brussels.

The band is finishing out 2019 with a 16 date ‘holiday tour’ across the United States. This includes multiple nights in Chicago, Denver, and Austin. They close out the year at Webster Hall in New York City.

Since 2018, the Slackers have been releasing a new single every 6 months. Their summer 2019 release, ‘Way of a Woman’(screaming records), sold out of its first pressing in 2 days. Their next single, ‘Babaroots’ is due out on the NYCT label in December 2019.

Links: Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify

THE AGGROLITES

The Aggrolites are more than a band they are a movement unto themselves. They carry a banner – one created with their own hands. This banner reads, “Dirty Reggae,” and represents their signature fusion of reggae, soul, grit and determination. For seven magnificent years, this dirty reggae bunch has rolled from city to city, across the pond and up main street USA. They rally the kids, the parents, the students, the cops, the bosses and the drifters. The people come, they relish in The Aggrolites, the dirty reggae and the joy that comes with it all. The liberating rhythms and catchy grooves demand a return trip.

Out of the Los Angeles school of hard knocks, The Aggrolites have earned a PhD in “feel good music.” On the road they educate with the thunder and punch of the reggae drums and bass, the ripping, soulful melodies of the organ and guitars, and Jesse Wagner’s voice – a gift from the heavens, a perfectly intact gift from Otis, Sam, Ray and Wilson.

After eight years of touring the globe, The Aggrolites are proud to reveal their first live album, Unleashed Live Vol. 1. With five previous studio releases under their belt, including recently released Rugged Road, the next logical move for the band was a compilation of their favorite songs recorded live from recent shows at The Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA and The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Unleashed Live Vol. 1 features songs from all four previous studio releases plus a version of The Beatles “Don’t Let Me Down” and “Banana” by the legendary reggae artist, Roy Ellis. Release date will be announced sometime this fall and available digitally worldwide and in select retail outlets nationwide.

The Aggrolites have a specific way of making music. They don’t over think it, they don’t obsess over pop culture demands, they walk onto a stage or into a recording studio and let “it” happen – a culmination of inspiration – from the road, from playing alongside legends, and from the energy and motivation of their die hard fans.

The Aggrolites are Jesse Wagner (vocals, lead guitar), Roger Rivas (organ), Jeff Roffredo (bass), Ricky Chacon (guitar) and Alex Mckenzie (Drums).

They have five other full-length albums to their credit — Dirty Reggae (Axe, 2003), The Aggrolites (Hellcat, 2006) and Reggae Hit L.A. (Hellcat, 2007), IV (Hellcat, 2009) and Rugged Road (Young Cub, 2011) “A glorious, surprising treat. Ideal for your next soul shakedown party,” raved Peter Relic from Rolling Stone. In 2007, the band also collaborated with Rancid front man Tim Armstrong on his solo A Poet’s Life (Hellcat 2007) CD/DVD release.

The Aggrolites are well represented in film, television and video games. Their songs have been featured in NBC’s Friday Night Lights, MTV’s The Hills, Nick Jr.’s Yo Gabba Gabba, USA’s Dr. Steve-O, MavTV’s Rad Girls, the award-winning surf film The Pursuit, and Australian video game Cricket. The Aggros-backed, Tim Armstrong and Skye Sweetnam duet, “Into Action,” is featured in Dream Works Pictures’ Hotel For Dogs and Summit Entertainments “50/50” featuring Joseph Gorden-Levitt and Seth Rogen. Their renditions of The Specials’ “Ghost Town” and Musical Youth’s “Pass The Dutchie” will be heard in the upcoming teen surf comedy Endless Bummer, and “Free Time” will be in Walden Media’s musical-romantic comedy Band Slam.

The Aggrolites have shared the stage with Social Distortion, Rancid, Slighty Stoopid, Flogging Molly, 311, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Dropkick Murphys, Elvis Costello, Ernest Ranglin, Georges Clinton Funkadelic, Against Me! Gogol Bordello and many more. They have graced the stages at such notable events as Vans Warped Tour (3 Times), SXSW/Austin, Coachella in USA, Fuji Rock in Japan, Byron Bay Blues Fest in Australia, Pukkelpop, Groezrock, Dour, Pole Pole in Belgium, Lowlands, Dawpop Festival in Netherlands, West Coast Riot in Sweden, Sziget Festival in Hungary, Leeds & Reading, Rebellion Festival, Madstock, Beautiful Days in UK, Open Air St. Gallen in Switzerland, Pohoda Festival in Slovakia, Summerjam, Vainstream Rockfest, Chiemsee Reggae Festival, Endless Summer in Germany, Festi’Val de Marne, Rock dans tous ses états, Reggae Sun Ska, Festival du Bout du monde, Les Nuits Secrètes, Lez’Arts Scéniques, Couvre Feu Festival in France, Ostroda Reggae Festival in Poland, Nowa Reggae, Enclave de Agua, Erroma Ska-Reggae festival in Spain, Liberation Festival in Italy, Trnfest in Slovenia, Mighty Sound Festival in Czech Republic, Sakifo Festival in La Reunion Island (indian Ocean) among numerous others around the world.

Links: Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify