ROAD TRIP: Supernova International Ska Festival 2017

Like elephants that are not particularly forgetful, we fit into that subsection of music fans that can never forget a show with a good line-up, especially if we never end up making it to that show. This goes double for festivals, where the possibilities that come with a gathering of a lot of great bands and the rare acts you might not be able to see elsewhere turns our brains into jelly (it’s a good thing, I swear.)

One festival we remember missing out on pretty distinctly was last year’s Virginia Ska Fest. Well, it looks like the team behind that festival have been cooking up a new multi-day event that has us frantically calling our local rent-a-car shops for quotes. Enter the Supernova International Ska Festival in Fredericksburg, Virginia, being held Memorial Day weekend (May 27th & 28th) in 2017. At just two days long, this festival boasts a massive line-up of newcomers and heavyweights, including (but certainly not limited to) The Pietasters, The Aggrolites, Derrick Morgan, The Skints, the Toasters, The Snails, Sammy Kay, Murphy’s Kids, and El Grande. What’s more, the festival organizers are hyping that even more great bands could be headed down I-81 next spring, depending on how many tickets get sold. See the full lineup below, and head to Eventbrite to pick up early bird tickets before October 1st.

You might notice the Fest is taking 2016 off, which seems to be due to the Blue & Grey Brewing Company being sold to an outside buyer at the beginning of this year. It’s always disappointing to see the loss of a ska-friendly venue, but it looks like 2017’s Fest will more than make up for the year off.

Check out the official poster w/ awesome lineup below, and head to the festival’s Facebook event page for more information and updates. Don’t have a metal box with four wheels to take you 500 miles? Our Boston Ska Event Calendar has you covered.

supernova ska fest 2017