ABOUT

It’s not often an act comes along with a truly unique demeanour standing out incomparable to the rest of the landscape. Yet Ipswich’s very own Ska and Reggae giants The Downsetters are one of these rare gems, offering a totally exclusive brand of Ska Fusion and Dynamite Reggae packed with enough energy to divert a lightning strike back into space! Influenced as a collective by all eras of Ska, Reggae, Dub, Punk, and even Heavy Metal…they have pioneered and championed an unmatched style and sound that takes the best bits from each culture turning into one almighty extravaganza!

Since lighting the Ska Fusion firework in 2011, The Downsetters very quickly became a hometown favourite playing all major local events and festivals, as well as headlining the UK’s biggest free music event – Ipswich Music Day in the bands second full year. It didn’t take long for the firework embers to start covering the rest of the UK, earning the Downsetters a well-earned place on the UK Ska Scene stage. Rapid popularity growth continued paving the way for performances at major UK festivals Glastonbury & Boomtown, support slots for legends Bad Manners, The Beat, Neville Staple band (The Specials) & The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra (Madness).

More recent years have seen the rise of the Ska Fusion wave throughout Europe with multiple European Tours and Festival shows taking place in France, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, and Slovakia! Not only have they become a dominant force on the live stage, there is a backlog of studio releases that demonstrates the bands capabilities and talents from a songwriting and production perspective. Three album releases including the debut ‘We are now leaving the future’ / ‘The Asylum Hotel’ / ‘Chainsaw Lullabies’, as well as multiple single releases and limited-edition live albums. 2024 is poised to be a special year with the band marking the announcement of the eagerly anticipated fourth studio album.

It’s fair to say that the World Heavyweight Champions of Ska Fusion are simply unmissable and guarantee to leave the audience in a state of euphoria. If live music with the energy of three phase electricity is for you, look no further!

"The Downsetters are quite simply one of the best ska and reggae acts the UK has ever produced. Not content with just reworking well known songs, including many a obscure gems, the group pride themselves on innovative, original songs masterminded by their founder - the late, great Stan Stanojevic. With a back catalogue to be mighty proud of and more new material being added all the time, The Downsetters continue to amaze and entertain with their unique style."
Stephen Foster, BBC
"My favourite Ska Band, The Downsetters! They are absolutely bloody marvellous, mark my words. If you haven’t seen them or haven’t heard of them, well....put that on your bucket list because they are simply superb. They’ve just left the Royal Ascot stage in a smouldering mess of goodness after smashing the joint, just like they did at this years Glastonbury festival! Expect more excitement, electricity, and top dancing music from the number one Ska Band in the land......The Downsetters!"
Gaz Mayall, Gaz’s Rockin Blues
"I managed to see 40 music gigs this year, which was brilliant, and most of them were superb – I think because they people I have liked for decades that have kept going just get better and better and also, I have had the pleasure of seeing new (and old) things with my kids at their suggestion. The most fun I had at a gig was dancing about on my own for hours to a ska band called The Downsetters at Glastonbury 2023."
Stewart Lee, UK Comedian

VIDEOS

MUSIC

Cool Down
Regeneration
Plastic Fantastic
Are You Reggae?
Mango Rock!
The Asylum Hotel (Check In)
 

SHOWS

2024

  • 21st March 2024 / Uzine Club – Rennes, France
  • 22nd March 2024 / Zik n Roll festival – Boussay, France
  • 23rd March 2024 / Le Havre FC Supports Club – Le Harve, France
  • 12th April 2024 / John Peel Centre – Stowmarket, UK
  • 12th May 2024 / Ipswich Corn Exchange – Ipswich, UK (The Dualers Support)
  • 21st June 2024 / Norwich Arts Centre – Norwich, UK
  • 7th July 2024 / Ipswich Music Day – BBC stage, Ipswich, UK
  • 13th September 2024 / Folkstone Skabour Festival – Folkstone, UK
  • 14th September 2024 / Low Collective Festival – Ipswich, UK
  • 5th October 2024 / Norwich U.E.A – Norwich, UK (The Dualers Support)
  • 7th November 2024 / Bannermans - Edinburgh, UK
  • 9th November 2024 / Glasgow 02 Academy – Glasgow, UK (The Dualers Support)