When the Ska and Reggae Fest returns to Victoria from June 24 to 28, it will feature a multitude of talent from around the world, and attendees might be forgiven for their difficulty in choosing which of the host of tremendous groups they should see. “One of the groups that I would definitely recommend is The Black Seeds,” said Dane Roberts, the founder and executive director of the festival. “When I first saw these guys perform, I was just blown away, and I said, I have to get them to the festival.” “They have a sound that really showcases the diversity and soul of ska.” The Black Seeds hail from Wellington, New Zealand, where frontman and founder of the group, Barnaby Weir, was inspired by the ska movement. The music that the band performs doesn’t allow for a simple classification within a single genre, though. Sure, it’s inspired by reggae and ska, but their breakthrough hit, One by One, took that inspiration and mixed it with big beat funk, dub, Afro music, pop, rock, and soul. That song was featured in the top-ranked TV series Breaking Bad, and the band has never looked back. “We’re predominantly a funk/soul group with reggae and Jamaican roots,” said Weir. “For us, we enjoy touching on rhythms that are groovy and make your hips move. There has to be a heartbeat to the music, and because we do everything live, our music has that human element. You’ll never hear us play the same song exactly the same way twice.” “You never know what you’re going to hear or see with us. It’s exciting and spontaneous, and I think that people get the group vibe – the way we’re human and there to lead you on a personal adventure.” That formula has obviously worked as the band has been active for 27 years (coincidentally coinciding with the run of Skafest in Victoria). The band performs with eight members, with instruments that include guitar, saxophone, trumpet, bass, drums, bongos, keyboard, and wood block, all in support of the group’s amazing vocals. Weir has been the constant for the group, which, understandably, has seen a number of changes in membership over the years. Around the mid-2010s, the band underwent key personnel changes, with longtime guitarist Mike Fabulous and bassist Tim Jaray departing after contributing to Dust and Dirt. These exits prompted the integration of new members, including keyboardist Nigel Patterson, who had been involved in earlier projects, and drummer Jarney Murphy, who joined in the late 2000s and provided rhythmic continuity. The refreshed lineup supported the release of their sixth studio album, Fabric, in September 2017, which peaked at number four on the New Zealand album charts and earned acclaim for its introspective tracks and production. As was the case for many groups, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the band’s live shows and forced them into the studio where they created their seventh album, Love and Fire. They re-emerged after the pandemic, with a whirlwind touring schedule and even more releases. They’ve just released a new single, Compassion, and are working on even more amazing music. “We were in Victoria in 2016, and we’re coming back this year because we were lucky enough to run into Dane (Roberts) and he invited us to return,” said Weir. It’s a great festival, and we’re coming over to do the four shows because we love Victoria and we love Dane. We’re excited to bring our sound to Canadian ears.”
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