Tag: 2 Tone

New trailer shows off dazzling 4K restoration of “Dance Craze” ahead of film, soundtrack reissue

New trailer shows off dazzling 4K restoration of “Dance Craze” ahead of film, soundtrack reissue

The British Film Institute has released a trailer for its dazzling new 4K restoration of the classic 2 Tone-era document “Dance Craze: The Best of British Ska… Live!”

Madness to play first U.S. concerts in 8 years around Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival

Madness to play first U.S. concerts in 8 years around Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival

The Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival in Las Vegas last month announced that Madness will headline its 2020 installment along with the reunited Circle Jerks and Oi! pioneers Cock Sparrer. Now the 2 Tone-era ska heroes have announced three more rare U.S. concerts around that festival next May.

Vintage Video: ‘Dance Craze: The Best of British Ska… Live!’ celebrates the 2-Tone era

Vintage Video: ‘Dance Craze: The Best of British Ska… Live!’ celebrates the 2-Tone era

For this latest installment of our Vintage Video series, we honor the life and music of The Beat’s Ranking Roger — who died Monday — with the single best document of the 2 Tone era, the criminally out-of-print concert film “Dance Craze: The Best of British Ska… Live!” Watch the whole film right here.

The Specials to bring ‘Encore’ 40th anniversary tour to North America this spring

The Specials to bring ‘Encore’ 40th anniversary tour to North America this spring

Beloved 2 Tone ska act The Specials today released its first new album featuring original frontman Terry Hall since 1980’s More Specials, and helped mark the occasion by announcing a 40th anniversary tour of North America this May and June. Full dates right here. Plus, stream the new album ‘Encore.’

Listen: The Specials, ‘Vote For Me’ — first new single with Terry Hall since ‘Ghost Town’

Listen: The Specials, ‘Vote For Me’ — first new single with Terry Hall since ‘Ghost Town’

Legendary 2 Tone ska act The Specials this week released its first single with original lead frontman Terry Hall since 1981’s “Ghost Town,” a lilting new song called “Vote For Me” that is the first cut to surface off the band’s forthcoming reunion album Encore. Listen to the full track right here.

The Specials announce 12-date tour of Canada and the U.S. coasts in June

The Specials announce 12-date tour of Canada and the U.S. coasts in June

The Specials return to North America this June for a 12-date run of concerts that will take the band to Canada and the east and west coasts of the United States. The tour opens with two shows in Toronto on June 6 and 7, then plays a few East Coast dates, followed by a West Coast run, before ending at a Quebec festival on June 24.

The Specials returning to North America this summer for second leg of tour

The Specials returning to North America this summer for second leg of tour

As promised, reunited 2 Tone-era ska giants The Specials are returning to North America this summer for the second leg of their 2013 tour, following up their March dates at South By Southwest and in the western part of the country with at least eight concerts in Canada and on the East Coast of the United States.

The Beat’s Dave Wakeling records 2 songs for 2 Tone-inspired ‘Scooby-Doo’ episode

The Beat’s Dave Wakeling records 2 songs for 2 Tone-inspired ‘Scooby-Doo’ episode

Parents of young children or fans of cartoons in general may want to tune in to this afternoon’s installment of “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated” on the Cartoon Network: Today’s episode, “Dance of the Undead,” celebrates 2 Tone-era ska music and features two songs recorded just for the show by Dave Wakeling.

The Specials begin rolling out dates for first leg of North American tour this March

The Specials begin rolling out dates for first leg of North American tour this March

The Specials have begun announcing dates for the first leg of this year’s North American tour, confirming shows via their Twitter account in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco on either side of the band’s planned performances at the South By Southwest festival in March.

The Specials announce U.S. tour, South By Southwest dates as Neville Staple leaves band

The Specials announce U.S. tour, South By Southwest dates as Neville Staple leaves band

The Specials finally are making good on a promise to tour the U.S., today announcing they’ll play two dates at the South By Southwest festival in March as part of the first leg of a larger North American visit — but the shows will not feature co-vocalist Neville Staple, who is leaving the band due to “ill health.”

The Specials announce U.K. concerts, hint at ‘two-part tour of the U.S.A.’ in 2013

The Specials announce U.K. concerts, hint at ‘two-part tour of the U.S.A.’ in 2013

The reunion of 2 Tone-era ska giants The Specials rolls into 2013 as the band this week announced a 10-date spring tour of the U.K. and even hinted it would fulfill its promise to return to America, tweeting this morning that “The Specials are discussing a possible two part TOUR OF THE USA in March and late August 2013.”

The Specials to release ‘More… Or Less’ 2CD live album recorded on 2011 reunion dates

The Specials to release ‘More… Or Less’ 2CD live album recorded on 2011 reunion dates

The Specials next month will release a 26-track live album dubbed ‘More… Or Less: The Specials Live’ in both 2CD and 2LP formats, collecting “the best of the best tracks” from U.K. and European dates on the band’s 2011 reunion tour, EMI Catalogue announced this morning.

Linkage: Pixies say ‘there’s talk’ of new CD, plus ‘Dance Craze,’ Nick Lowe, Soundgarden

Today’s roundup of interesting web nuggets includes two members of the Pixies discussing a new album, the 30th anniversary of ‘Dance Craze,’ a new streaming song from Nick Lowe’s ‘Labour of Lust’ album and a word from Soundgarden.