Ska outfit The Beat play The Box in Crewe

Aug 26 2009 by Will Harris, Crewe Chronicle

VETERAN ska outfit The Beat visit The Box in Crewe tomorrow (Thursday).

Ranking Roger and his band come to the Pedley Street venue on the back of a 30-year career.

When they rushed on to the music scene in 1979, it was a time of social, political and musical upheaval, with The Beat, trying to calm the waters with their simple message of love and unity set to a great dance beat.

The band crossed over fluidly between soul, reggae, pop and punk, and from these disparate pieces they created an infectious dance rhythm.

Along with their contemporaries The Specials, The Selecter, and Madness, The Beat became an overnight sensation and one of the most popular and influential bands of the British ska movement.

Over the course of the next five years The Beat toured relentlessly and released three studio albums - I Just Can't Stop It, Wh'appen, and Special Beat Service.

Support comes in the form of local boys Vavoom, with their usual brand of high octane rock ‘n’ roll.

The Nantwich three-piece have built up a following over the past 10 years and have become known for delivering a fast-paced set of tunes spanning several decades.

Doors open at 8pm and tickets are £15. For more details visit www.theboxcrewe.co.uk.