The Slackers, the biggest Ska band in the United States, performs in Brazil for the first time!

"Loirinha Bombril", "Ela disse adeus" and "Cinema mudo", from Paralamas do Sucesso; "Eu me amo" and "Nós vamos invadir sua praia", from Ultraje a Rigor; "Sonífera Ilha", from Titãs; "Saideira", from Skank; "Proibida pra mim", from Charlie Brown Jr. What do these songs have in common, besides being among the biggest hits of some of the most important national pop-rock bands? The answer is simple: in all of them you will find the unmistakable ska beat. The Jamaican rhythm, father of reggae, has been popular with the Brazilian public since the early 80s until today, always being on the charts. And now, Brasil will be able to watch the show of Estados Unidos's biggest ska band: Slackers! The dancing rhythm of ska has everything to do with the Brazilian climate, and it is at its peak that Slackers, a New York band with a 15-year career and 10 albums released, arrives at Brasil for the first time. The show will be even more special with the participation of Chris Murray. A Canadian based in California, Murray is responsible for the main Jamaican music nights at Los Angeles and has his songs recorded by some of the world's greatest ska and reggae artists, such as Slackers and Hepcat. The meeting of Slackers and Murray on stage is, at Brasil, exclusive to Rio de Janeiro – both will also be at São Paulo, participating in the ska festival at Sesc Pompéia, but playing separately. Cariocas and Paulistas will have nothing to complain about during these holidays, as the contagious rhythm of Ska will be the first major event of the year for lovers of the style. Check below the dates and locations where Slackers will perform.

FIREBUG AT THE FESTIVAL

Another band has been confirmed for the Slackers show, Estados Unidos's biggest ska band today: Firebug, from São Paulo, who is releasing their second CD this month on DeckDisc - the same label as people like Pitty, Ultraje a Rigor, Cachorro Grande and Dead Fish. The band has among its members Victor Rice, an American multi-instrumentalist who accompanied the legendary Desmond Dekker and Laurel Aitken, participated in the creation of the brilliant "Dub Side of the Moon" as a member of Easy Star All Stars, produced Slackers's first album and played on the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble; and Rodrigo Cerqueira, the person responsible for the drumsticks in Reggae B from Paralama Bi Ribeiro and former drummer of one of Brasil's most successful ska bands, Skuba. In addition to Firebug and Slackers (which will feature the special participation of the Canadian Chris Murray), DJ Edinho - the most important rock DJ of Rio de Janeiro - and Coquetel Acapulco and La Bamba, the most active ska bands from Rio de Janeiro. Both will be on the new compilation album by the Santos label Fantástico Fandango, which will be released in February, with ska bands from Brasil, México, Rússia and Argentina.

EVENT DATA

 São Paulo - SP  Location: SESC Pompéia  Dates: January 26th and 27th, 2006  Rio de Janeiro - RJ  Location: Teatro Odisséia  Dates: January 29, 2006  Observation: Only in Rio will Slackers and Chris Murray play together. Tickets: Advance payments* - R$15.00 On the day, until 8pm - R$18.00 From 8pm - R$20.00

MORE INFORMATION

 Click here and find out more about the band.  Official website: www.theslackers.com  Click here and listen to "Married Girl" from the album "Red Light".