Event Description

What would our 25th Anniversary be without one of the beloved acts that appeared at our very first year?! Our dear friend and longtime ally in Ska, CHRIS MURRAY, joins us for a very special performance, where he’ll be flanked by his friends and comrades in ska, THE NEW VICTORIANS, to close out our 25th birthday bash. In the 25 years since his first festival appearance, Chris Murray has kept true to his ska roots, cementing himself as one of Canada’s greatest purveyors of the genre. Armed with nothing more than an acoustic guitar, his beautiful singing voice and an endless passion for the roots of Jamaican music, Chris Murray has remained as one of our Ska & Reggae Fest massive’s most beloved performers. A Ship Point, festival-closing set from Chris Murray is sure to be one to remember.

Coming up the coast from California is reggae rock singer-songwriter KYLE SMITH. Smith will be coming with his band to play their southern Cali style reggae – you know it’s got those ska/punk/hip-hop flavours – on our stage for the first time. Smith’s songs are catchy as hell and spread big positivity while getting down deep into what it means to be human and have flaws. Catch this rising reggae star on our stage and get in on the ground floor. Keep things moving on this Sunday afternoon, JORY KINJO & THE RELAYS will be bringing their ultra soulful blend of rocksteady, blues and R&B. JK & The Relays have some of the most infectious stage energy you’re ever going to see. It’s been 11 years since they’ve stepped on the Festival stage and we can’t be more excited to welcome them back! We also have in the house for our closing day, Winnipeg’s 7-piece psychedelic jazz rock juggernaut, APOLLO SUNS. After their highlight appearance at Garden City Grooves in 2023, we knew we needed to bring them back to play on our big stage at Ship Point. On stage, Apollo Suns are an absolute force, blasting audiences into a galaxy of groove. Opening up the proceedings and keeping things groovy between sets is our friend and one of the Island’s most knowledgeable music minds, REBEL SELECTOR. He’ll be digging deep into his chest to lay down select cuts from a dizzying array of genres.

Come one, come all and help us close down our 25th Anniversary Festival in style!