History
Bringing community to the ska scene since 2013.
HISTORY OF THE SUPERNOVA INTERNATIONAL SKA FESTIVAL
The 2023 Supernova International Ska Festival will take place at historic Fort Monroe, Virginia on September 15-17, 2023. The festival started in 2014 in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and prides itself on mixing legendary artists with ska bands from all eras. Foundation ska musicians like Derrick Morgan, The Skatalites, and Doreen Shaffer have shared the stage with bands like The Hepcat, The Aggrolites, The Suicide Machines, The Pietasters, and The Skints over the years. It is the largest festival dedicated to ska music in the United States.
2020 - COVID-19 VIRTUAL FESTIVAL AND SUPERNOVA SATURDAYS
The 2020 Supernova Ska Festival: Quarantine Edition
The 2020 Supernova Ska Festival: Quarantine Edition was a virtual festival featuring ska bands from across the world and all eras of ska. The event served as a fundraiser that raised more than $13,000 to launch a new music initiative for at-risk youth at the Alpha Institute in Jamaica. Coolie Ranx was the emcee for the night. The festival line-up included Less Than Jake, The Suicide Machines, The Pietasters, Lynval Golding, The Skatalites, Big D and the Kids Table, Buck-O-Nine, Mephiskapheles, Pilfers, Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos, Shaggydog from Indonesia,
2021 - FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA
The 2021 Supernova International Ska Festival took place on September 17-19, 2021 and included Hepcat, The Skatalites, The Slackers, The Pietasters, Buck-O-Nine, Mustard Plug, The Toasters, Bim Skala Bim, Pilfers, The Skunks, Chris Murray, Hub City Stompers, Mephiskapheles, King Django, Adam Flymo Birch & The Vershons, Eastern Standard Time, El Salvador's ADHESIVO, J. Navarro & the Traitors, The Players Band, Matamoska, Half Past Two, Danny Rebel and the KBG (virtually), The Dendrites, Sammy Kay and the Fast Four, The Scotch Bonnets, Stop The Presses, The Loving Paupers, Catbite, Thirteen Towers, BowCat, Mr. Kingpin, and Some Ska Band. Coolie Ranx and Curtis Meachem from Monkey were the emcees and Roger Rivas, JonQuan, and Eric Abbey and Pocket Sounds were DJs for the weekend.
The Toasters, Sonic Boom Six, Monty Neysmith, Chris Murray, The Doped Up Dollies, ADHESIVO, Roger Rivas, Bite Me Bambi, Los Skarnales, King Django, Dr. Ring Ding, Babylove and the van Dangos, J. Navarro & the Traitors, Dan Potthast, The Porkers, MONKEY, The Uppertones, Hub City Stompers, Jackie Mendez, Eastern Standard Time, Be Like Max, Catbite, Vieja Skina, Half Past Two, Rude King, Adam Flymo Birch & The Vershones, Sgt. Scagnetti, The Fuss, The Skapones, The Steady 45s, Death of Guitar Pop, The Loving Paupers, Buddha Council, The Skatuesques, Rude Boy George, The Pandemics, The Prizefighters, Sammy Kay, Abraskadabra, The Scotch Bonnets, The Dendrites, Mr. Kingpin, The Bishops, The Forwards, Some Ska Band, Matamoska, Control This, Stop the Presses, The Players Band, The Snails, The Upstarters, Thirteen Towers, Backyard Superheroes, Bowcat, Riki Rocksteady, Esaopa Ska, and Pocket Sounds.
2018 - FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA
1781 BREWERY
The Supernova International Ska Festival took place at the 1781 Brewery on May 26-27, 2018 in Fredericksburg, Virginia area. Bands included The Pietasters, The Suicide Machines, The Stubborn All-Stars, MU330, Doreen Schaffer from The Skatalites, Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra, Westbound Train, Greg Lee from Hepcat, Roddy Radiation (from The Specials), Eastern Standard Time, Adam Flymo Birch & The Versions, Dr. Ring-Ding, Chris Murray Combo, Spring Heeled Jack (USA), The Steady 45s, Danny Rebel, The Scotch Bonnets, Hub City Stompers, Duppies, Matamoska, The Crombies, Green Room Rockers, Rude Boy George, Sgt. Scagnetti, Sammy Kay, The Loving Paupers, Matt Wixson's Flying Circus, DJ Chuck Wren, Tritón Soundsystem and Duncan Shifter.
2015 - FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA
BLUE AND GRAY BREWERY
2015's festival was a two-day event called The 2015 Virginia Ska Festival and it was held at Blue and Gray Brewery in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The line-up included The Slackers, The Pietasters, The Toasters, Spring-Heeled Jack, Chris Murray, Dan Potthast, Eastern Standard Time, The Snails, Sammy Kay, Murphy's Kids, 4 Point 0.
Supernova Saturdays
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Supernova pivoted to a weekly virtual program called Supernova Saturdays from March - October 2020. Coolie Ranx was the host for the show and Jon Bravo was critical on the production of the show. Weekly guests included Neville Staple and Lynval Golding from The Specials, Mike Park from Skankin' Pickle and Asian Man Records, David Hillyard from The Slackers, Ken Stewart from The Skatalites, Greg Lee from Hepcat, Jason Navarro from The Suicide Machines, Steve Jackson from The Pietasters, Victor Rice, Chris Murray, Dan Potthast from MU330, King Django, David McWane from Big D and the Kids Table, Catbite, Bite Me Bambi, Alpheus, The Loving Paupers, Jeremy Hunter from Skatune Network, and Mr. Kingpin.
2017 - FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA
FREDERICKSBURG FAIRGROUNDS
The 2017 Supernova International Ska Festival was held in Fredericksburg, Virginia over Memorial Day weekend on May 27-28, 2017. Bands playing included The Pietasters, The Aggrolites, Derrick Morgan, Greg Lee from Hepcat, The Skints, Sonic Boom Six, Pilfers, Chris Murray, Symarip (Monty Neysmith), The Toasters, Askultura, J. Navarro and The Traitors, Hub City Stompers, Eastern Standard Time, Murphy's Kids, The Snails, Sammy Kay, The Freecoasters, Party Like It's, Stacked Like Pancakes, The Captivators, The Scotch Bonnets, Backyard Superheroes, Rude King, The Ladrones, High School Football Heroes, The Fuss, The Bishops, Behind Deadlines, Thirteen Towers, El Grande, Circle City Deacons, The Upstarters and Revolucion Oi. DJ AMFB and Duncan Shifter were DJs for the weekend.
2014 - FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINA
BLUE AND GREY BREWERY
The 2014 show was a one-day show called The 2014 Brewfest and it was held at the Blue and Gray Brewery in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The line-up included The Pietasters, Chris Murray, The Snails, Chris Wigley, and Grace and Tony.