The classic scooterists club magazine

Folkestone Skabour Festival

Additionally, the weekend will include a Ska Market, Scooter ‘rideouts’, after-gig parties and an Art Exhibition by ‘Teflon’, the originator of the 2-Tone iconic imagery behind bands such as The Specials, Madness, The Selector and The Beat.

John Sims aka ‘Teflon’ says: “The Ska movement still has a tremendous following in the UK and elsewhere (Teflon’s ‘This ART 2-Tone’ exhibition has just had a successful season in New York). However, it remains fashionably undercurrent. That said, anyone listening to the upbeat sounds of Ska music can’t help but tap their feet or get down to some serious dancehall skanking.”

Folkestone is becoming a hot spot for live music as well as being a vibrant town thanks to its visual and performing art regeneration backed by philanthropist, Roger De Haan. He has invested much of the proceeds generated from the sale of the SAGA Group, a local employer, into the town. De Haan is supporting the Folkestone Skabour Festival through his ongoing business and charitable organisations.

Although located on Kent’s South Coast, Folkestone is easily accessible by way of the M20 motorway and the new High Speed Rail Link from London St Pancras (51 min) as well as being a short hop from the continent.

Sixteen Ska bands will be playing over the course of the weekend supported by a host of DJs. The epicentre of the weekend’s events will be Folkestone’s Harbour and the adjacent ‘Creative Quarter’ including the new multi-million-pound performing art centre ‘Quarterhouse’. As an example of the cooperative spirit of the town’s cultural scene, Quarterhouse is providing its online ticketing facilities for use by other Folkestone Skabour Festival venues during the course of the weekend.

The organisers of Skabour, a not for profit event, are seeking to raise funds for a local school playground regeneration project as well as bringing additional income to the local businesses in the town. In approaching a local B&B landlady, Linda Dowling, to book accommodation for the festival it transpired that Linda featured on the original sleeve cover of The Specials single 'Too Much Too Young'! A separate press release of this chance meeting between Teflon and Linda will be published shortly.

Folkestone Skabour Festival runs from Friday 3 September through to Sunday 5 September 2010. The festival includes free family entertainment during the Saturday and Sunday daytimes with supporting ticketed evening events for those of 18 years plus at venues across the town.

Website: www.folkestoneskabourfestival.co.uk