Keeping Ska alive | Dakka Skanks

December 20 | Written By Sophia Wilkins

When music lovers think of ska, they may picture first wave heroes such as Prince Buster, or The Skatalites, or the second wave from which the 2Tone Records label was born. However, the ska and punk fusion which was introduced to the world by the likes of The Specials has been re-produced on many occasions since the late 70’s. In recent years, the music world has seen a surge in Ska revival once again, with bands like Dakka Skanks, Death of Guitar Pop, and Buster Shuffle, all creating new releases to keep the world of Ska music alive. 

Dakka Skanks are a five-piece group who have brought their passion for ska, dub, and punk to the stage since 2016. Fronted by lead singer Clara Byrne, the band has crafted an array of single releases as well as their album ‘Road to Brighton Pier’ which was delivered to the industry in 2018, and features songs fuelled by social and political issues such as ‘Ain’t a Skinhead’. More recently, the team spent their time generating a four-track 10” colour disc vinyl, in September 2024, which has been titled ‘Reworks’. Clara explained that the group have been releasing a track each month from September until December of this year on global streaming platforms such as Spotify. Simply, the new release consists of two Ska tracks, and two Punk tracks from iconic bands that, in Clara’s words, have been “Dakka-fied”!  

The enthusiasm from Clara and the musicians exude an element of fascination within their audiences due to the starkness of the words’ message and deep-rooted desire for social and political equality. During the sharply spoken prelude of ‘Ain’t a Skinhead’, the lyrics intensely unfold the reality of confusion between ‘boneheads’ and traditional Skinhead culture, of which Clara suggests needs to be reconsidered back to its true meaning. The words simply read “It’s all about the music, the dance, and the people, it’s all about the cultures”. 

The members have been increasing their venue circle massively year on year, since meeting in Brighton when the band formed, the five of them have extended their ‘local’ venues along the London to Brighton route. As they have branched out and gained publicity over the past eight years, the band have found themselves performing with Ska legends such as Madness, Neville Staple (from The Specials) and The Skatalites. Frequently, the group partners up for performances with another five-piece Ska band, Los Fastidios, from Italy. The two fuse together so smoothly and compliment the Ska-Punk mashup of each other’s tracks. 

The group are wrapping up the year with their Dakka Skanks Xmas Bash at The Underworld in Camden, on the 15th of December, where they will be joined by likewise bands: Counting Coins and Deadbeat at Dawn. The Dakka Sanks also have plans in the pipelines for 2025, as they’ll be back on the road again to cover the UK, EU, and possibly further from the 4th of January. 

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