The Adrian Xavier & Ska Island experience is a Reggae/Ska/Afro-Latin fusion sensation, a regional supergroup of players who have been pilgrimaging to Lopez Island over the last two years to craft & develop this extremely special, electrifying, & up-lifting show.
The mighty Ska Island band starts it off with a tribute set to the legendary Skatalites, playing their explosive interpretation of vintage first wave ska & rocksteady. Vocal features from members of the band stretch the groove of the veteran band across genres, culminating in a powerhouse performance of some of the best of Adrian Xavier’s classic reggae fusion catalog. Adrian has spent the last twent years establishing himself as one of the foundational pillars of the NW reggae community.
The group is fresh off of major performances at Seattle’s NW Folklife at the Seattle Center, the “Summer Reggae Jam Showcase” at Tacoma’s McMenamin’s Spanish Ballroom, and a 2-hour late night spot at Brodienation Music Festival in Carnation, WA. They are looking forward to main stage performances in August at the San Juan County Fair and the Anacortes Arts Festival, and a Friday headliner spot at the Little Big Festival on Whidbey Island (with the Polyrhythmics and Sway Wild headlining on Saturday.)
Adrian, a Seattle native, is joined by Lopezians Hawk Arps (keys, vibraphone), J’aime Cordova (congas, percussion) and Kevin Zelenak (bass), as well as Jonny Toulouse (guitar, Olympia), Matt “Mash” Nash (sax, Whidbey Island), Andy “Mr. Cakes” Codrington (Trombone, Bellingham) and Richard Brown (drums, Vancouver BC).
Orcas Center’s Summer Concert Series on the Village Green is FREE thanks to donations from local individuals and businesses including Country Corner, OrcaSong Farm, Buck Bay Shellfish Farm, Maria and Bill Burke, Darvill’s, Doe Bay Resort, Eastsound Airport Center, GiveOrcas and OICF, Island House Dental, Island Life, KaBloom Landscape Design, The Little Farm on Olga Road, A Massage by the Sea, New Leaf Café, Orcas Food Co-Op, Outlook Inn, Pawki’s for Pets, Ray’s Pharmacy, Salish Sea Medical, San Juan County LTAC, Savi Bank, Stoltz Kau Architects, Tony and Jenna Hair Studio, and West Sound Marina.
