Are you ready for a shot of Ska?

Lee Hollister and Manchester Ska Foundation in full flow at the Macclesfield Festival. Picture by Steve Thornhill

Ace tribute collective the Manchester Ska Foundation - and their Failsworth front-man Lee Hollister - are gearing up for one of their biggest gigs of the year.

The Manchester Ska Foundation are now firmly established as one of the north's leading Ska and 2-Tone outfits, regularly playing in front of packed-out crowds.

Their top-drawer reputation as a high-energy, tight tribute act make MSF a major feature the Great Northern Ska Festival, one of the UK's leading Ska all-dayers.

This year, the extravaganza on August 18 at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Trafford Park, boasts its biggest line-up yet.

Headlining is the legendary UB40, whose record of three UK No 1s, 17 UK top 10s, 39 UK top 40s, and an impressive 238 weeks in the UK top 40 charts are sure to make the event a summer smash.

Joining them will be Bad Manners, who enjoyed appeareances on Top of The Pops at the height of Ska revival when Madness, the Specials and the Selecter also filled the charts.

Other performers include Esperanza, a DJ set from Skafather, and Lionstar, who have played alongside artists such as Happy Mondays, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, and UB40.

Sets begin with Skafather at 2pm at Bowlers, and if it is anything like previous years, the festival's third promises to get everyone up skanking.

For the Manchester Ska Foundation, this festival is the highlight of a summer that has been filled with big performances at events such as the Big Rock and Macclesfield music festivals.

That won't mean a lull for the band, however, whose calender is full of headline gigs throughout the autumn and winter months from Sale to Buxton.

Tickets for the North's biggest Ska festival are still available via the link on the dedicated Manchester Ska Foundation Facebook page.

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