Victoria Ska Fest: FREE Workshops - Victoria, BC

MUSIC THAT INSPIRES SOCIAL CHANGE
with Adham Shaikh (World Beat Roots/Electronic)
 
Date and Time: Thursday, July 12th (1pm - 2pm)
 
Adham Shaikh is a Juno Award-nominated music producer, composer, sound designer and DJ who brings his uniquely powerful global sounds to the world stage and screen, not to mention many a crowded dance floor. As a music producer and composer, Adham skillfully weaves organic and electronic sounds into global music tapestries that take listeners on sonic journeys transcending time and place. One of Adham's greatest talents is his ability to use sounds and visuals within his global electronic repertoire to evoke certain emotions from the audience and get important points across through his set.

The idea for this workshop was planted after Adham performed a song at a show in Nanaimo that was used to address the crisis of water. His music, visuals and the costumes of his dancer during the set vividly conveyed the crisis. This song was just one of many that used visuals, music and dance to convey various themes. In this workshop, Adham will touch on some of these techniques when selecting to bring each idea to the forefront. He may also talk about what influences him to use music to inspire social change and why his shows leave such a lasting impression on the audience.

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HORN ARRANGEMENTS IN SKA ENSEMBLES
With The Pietasters Horn Section: Alan Makranczy, Jeremy Roberts and Carlos Linares
The Pietaters (ska/soul) - "Never souled out!"
 
Date and Time: Thursday, July 12, 2012 (3pm - 4pm)
 
Since the early 1960s with the birth of ska music in Jamaica, horns have always been key instruments in what many people recognize as the definitive signature of the genre. Traditionally, ska bands have always had horns as a part of their arrangements, even though the guitar took a greater role in many bands' sounds in the second and third waves of ska. This is not the case when one looks at cousin genres rooted out of ska, such as rocksteady and reggae.

The Pietasters Horn Section will address the origins and influences of ska as a base going back to Cuban music, American jazz and mento. They will talk about why horn sections were so predominant in the early wave of ska music and how the role of horns is still important in identifying the ska genre today. 

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REGGAE HIT BASS LINES
By: Leroy 'Heptone' Sibbles
The man behind many of reggae music’s most famous bass lines and classics.
 
Date and Time: Friday, July 13, 2012 (1pm - 2pm) 
 
Leroy Sibbles is widely known for his work as the lead singer of the Rock Steady group The Heptones and as a solo artist, but many people are not aware of the huge influence Mr. Sibbles has had on all reggae music as the Studio One Bass player, arranger and A&R rep during the late 60’s and early 70’s. During his time in this role, he was responsible for many of the classic reggae bass lines that have been and continue to be used by new artists over and over again.

During his keynote interactive session, Leroy will discuss how he created the bass lines and arrangements for songs like "Satta Massagan," "Declaration Of Rights," "Kutchie (Pass The Dutchie)," "Queen Of The Minstrels," "No Man Is An Island" and "Drifter."
He will also discuss how he auditioned artists like Burning Spear and Dennis Brown, and provided bass lines for artists like John Holt, Horace Andy and Alton Ellis, to name a few. If you are a true lover of the history of reggae music, this is a session you won’t want to miss.

All ages welcome! Please pre-register by e-mailing Colin McTaggart at [email protected]