Esperanza, Capone and the Bullets AND Joe Viterbo, join us for our SKA night!
Tickets available from
This gig forms part of our ‘live in Stereo’ series of recorded shows, where two tracks from each band are digitally released.
What’s not to like?
Capone and the Bullets
In the early 90s, Capone and the Bullets earned themselves a fearsome reputation for delivering live and original ska, with intensity and passion, and an honest dedication to the egalitarian principles of the 2Tone movement. One self-titled album emerged from this heyday, released on London’s Do The Dog Records, and it remains an acknowledged classic of the ska scene.
In their absence over the last decade or so, The Bullets’ influence has permeated the bands that followed in their wake, with members going on to play with The Amphetameanies, Esperanza and several other outfits that have successfully mined the same rich musical seam
Then, an invite to reform to represent Scotland at last Spring’s London International Ska Festival led to The Bullets playing alongside a pantheon of rude-boy legends like The Pioneers, Dandy Livingstone, Don Letts, Rico Rodriguez, plus Jerry Dammers and Neville Staple of The Specials – and the experience persuaded them to make their reformation permanent.
Several shows around Scotland have since seen The Bullets’ home turf reclaimed, the new line-up baptised in sweat and new songs introduced to the faithful. When The Bullets are on the bill, be prepared for a night of top sounds and knees-in-the-air dancing…
Esperanza
Esperanza is a nine-piece ska collective from Glasgow, famed for live shows where their infectious rhythms get the crowd involuntarily jumping along. In several hectic years of gigging around Scotland, they have honed and perfected a high-tempo set, combining superb self-penned songs with a selection of ska classics, with not an ounce of fat left on it.
Having cut their teeth playing support to some of the biggest names in ska, including Toots and the Maytals, The Skatalites, Bad Manners, The Beat, and The Selecter, Esperanza are now eagerly anticipated regulars on the festival circuit, a larger arena that has seen them expand their musical repertoire into hard-edged protest reggae reminiscent of the Sandinista-era Clash.
Sunday Herald reviews Esperanza’s album, ‘Permanent Ska’
“Esperanza are more at home on Jamaica Street than on Bob Marley’s native island, which is perhaps why there’s urban grit in amongst the Caribbean sunshine of their debut album, ‘Permanent Ska’. The Scottish Specials? Indeed, and they’ve now recaptured the energy of their gigs.”
Joe Viterbo
Joe Viterbo do not hold back. They are not by any means a shy band. You may not have heard of them, but once seen, they are not easily forgotten.
Six musicians, of disparate musical influences, led by one of Scotland’s greatest ever frontmen, Mr Roderick Drysdale, and his partner in rhyme, the glamorous LeeAnn, the might JV throw everything they’ve got at every show – rock, ska, punk, jazz and soul.
Each piece of JV music is different. Each lyric is written from past experiences…some good, some bad. These songs are written for all to relate too, dance too and sing too!
The Skinny review’s Joe Viterbo’s album ‘Devil On My Shoulder’
“Touching upon just about every permutation of punk from Oi! to ska, Joe Viterbo’s ‘Devil on my Shoulder’ is the perfect cider music. LeeAnn and Rod’s two pronged bisexual vocal attack owes a healthy debt to folk, and while not churning out catchy throw-your-hands-in-the-air-spilling-cider-everywhere choruses, they’re keeping shit bouncy.”
