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A brief history of Western Australian ska band The Isolites. THE ISOLITES The Isolites from Perth, Western Australia, played a mix of their own original ska, rocksteady and Calypso tunes as well as covers of classic and less familiar numbers from the 60s. The band was formed mid 2010 by drummer Matt Hanson around the male/female vocal duo of Tayo Snowball and Coo Jarvis and after a few rehearsals had introduced a solid rhythm section consisting of Matt (drums), Andy Jarvis (Guitar), Dominic Pearce (Bass Guitar) and Toby Opferkuch (keys), with a three piece horn section made up of Adrian Hicks (Trumpet), Damien Denyer (Baritone Sax) and Alan Lark (Trombone). The Isolites debuted this 9 piece line-up on 26th November 2010 at Deville’s Pad (Perth) and performed regularly throughout Perth and Fremantle over the next two years, during this time, Keyboardist Toby Opferkuch was replaced by Christopher Weigel. In 2012, the band went into the studio and recorded their debut 11 track album “Shake It Up”, with future drummer Malcolm Clark behind the desk. Cut mostly live, it was released in February 2013 and consisted of nine original tracks and two covers - rocksteady duets originally recorded by Stranger Cole and Patsy Todd (“Down The Trainline” and “Give Me The Right”). Founding member Matt Hanson stepped down at the end of 2014, with Malcolm Clark taking over on drums. The band also slimmed down to an 8 piece, dropping the keys and Dominic Pearce was replaced by Sid Hennessy on double bass. The Isolites last show together was on 2nd June 2019 at “Rocking Steady Ska Festival” at Perth’s Rosemount Hotel. During the 9 years or so that The Isolites were active, they played around 40-50 gigs, including supports for UK bands The Selecter and Bad Manners, along with several appearances at the annual “Bob Marley Outernational Festival”. The Isolites L-R: A. Lark, D. Pearce, M. Hanson, C. Jarvis, T. Snowball, A. Hicks, A. Jarvis. Photographer/Artist: David Woolley Photography. Image courtesy of Andy Jarvis. Poster from The Isolites debut show on 26th November 2010. Deville's Pad - Perth. Image courtesy of Andy Jarvis. Members Past & Present Tayo Snowball - Vocals Coo Jarvis - Vocals Adrian Hicks - Trumpet Damien Denyer - Baritone Saxophone Alan Lark - Trombone Andy Jarvis - Guitar Dominic Pearce - Bass Guitar Sid Hennessy - Double Bass Toby Opferkuch - Keyboards Christoph Weigel - Keyboards Matt Hanson - Drums Malcolm Clarke - Drums Players Past & Present Mark Sprogowski - Tenor Saxophone Stuart Ferguson - Trumpet Meg Davidson - Baritone Saxophone Jordan Abel - Drums Acknowledgement & Sources Written by Andy Jarvis and Ivan Downey. August 2025. The Isolites live at Canefire Distillery, Perth 'Rum, Ribs & Reggae October 2015. L-R: A. Jarvis, S. Hennessy, M. Clark, C. Jarvis, T. Snowball, A. Hicks, D. Denyer. Photographer/Artist: Unknown. Image courtesy of Andy Jarvis. Discography 2013: Shake It Up CD Album HOME BANDS ARCHIVE

A history of Sydney based studio band Igniters. comprising various members of Allniters, INXS and Fast Cars. RUDE AS ENTERTAINMENT After attending Ska Nation Music Festival at Melbourne’s Esplanade Hotel in 2012, Helen Blackley and Lisa Murray, who first met as teenage Rude girls in the 1980’s became inspired to put on a similar summer show in Sydney. The first show was an Australia Day weekend SkaBQ in January 2013 at the iconic Town & Country Hotel in St. Peters in Sydney. Lisa’s sister, Shayne Murray designed the flyers, banner and merch for the sellout show which featured Brisbane’s Kingston Stompers with local bands The OzSkas, Cap A Capo with DJs in support, playing to a full house. 2015 saw Helen and Lisa Join forces with fellow 80’s Rudie, Andrew Downey, to organise another SkaBQ that took place at Marrickville Bowling Club in Sydney with the dream line-up of Strange Tenants, Allniters, Club Ska, The OzSkas, The Hangovers and Ska’d 4 Life. This was a huge undertaking (“like herding kittens”) and a major learning curve for the team, which included hiring a stage-extender to accommodate the large number of musicians typical to ska bands. After the success of the 2015 SkaBQ, Lisa and Helen attempted to come up with a suitable name for their business. Lisa came up with (and immediately regretted) “Rude As”. It was too late, however - Helen loved it and insisted on the name: “Rude As Entertainment”! The business name was then registered. Another SkaBQ in 2016 showcased Melbourne’s Bluebeat Allstars, No Nonsense and Loonee Tunes along with Brisbane’s Funaddicts. In 2018, Rude As Entertainment worked with The OzSkas and promoted two successful 2Tone tribute shows packing out the Annandale Hotel in Sydney. The biggest event to date for Rude As Entertainment has been the 2020 SkaBQ. 2020 saw Rude As Entertainment bring out to Australia for the first time, 2-Tone legend Rhoda Dakar of The Bodysnatchers and The Special AKA for an East Coast Tour that took in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Backing for Rhoda was provided by Sydney’s Ozskas. With all the SkaBQ’s that have been organised, charities have been at the heart of Rude As Entertainment with much-needed funds being raised for WIRES (a native wildlife rescue organisation very close to Lisa’s heart) in 2015 and 2020, and in 2016, Cancer Research was the charity of choice, in memoriam of Helen’s dear friend Renae Goldsmith who’d passed away the previous year. By April of 2020, Covid had ruled out any further shows. It wasn't until October 2022 that Rude As Entertainment would promote The OzSkas performed the Selecter’s Too Much Pressure album at Leichhardt Bowling Club, preceded by a set of originals and other covers. Since the end 2022, and due to other commitments things have been quiet on the Rude As Entertainment front, but the team is (probably) planning something soon – watch this space! Founders of Rude As Entertainment: L-R Helen Blackley & Lisa Murray. attending The Specials concert at The Enmore Theatre, Sydney.2017. Photo by Lisa Murray. Poster from the Melbourne leg of the 2020 SkaBQ tour with Rhoda Dakar. Acknowledgement & Sources Written by Lisa A. Murray. July 2025. HOME Promoting Australian Ska ARCHIVE

A history of Sydney based studio band Igniters. comprising various members of Allniters, INXS and Fast Cars. IGNITERS The Igniters were a studio band created from the Allniters' founder Martin Fabok's dream to record instrumental dub reggae, and together with fellow band members, Mark Taylor, Dave Bebb, Graham Hood and Stuart Crysell, along with Kirk Pengilly (INXS), recorded several four-track demos at the band's rehearsal Studio in Kent Street, Sydney in 1981. Martin, Mark and Stuart wanted to play some more reggae styled songs but were outvoted as the Allniters were essentially a ‘Modern Dance Band’, so using the four track studio at their Kent Street rehearsal rooms, they recorded some demos under the name Igniters. Someone at the A.B.C.’s 2JJJ radio station heard about Martin’s Igniter’s project and offered to record an EP of four dub reggae instrumentals at the A.B.C.’s 221 Studio in Forbes Street with in-house producer Ian Davis. Martin, Graham, Dave, Stuart and Phillip, roped in several friends Kirk Pengilly, saxophone (INX), Dave Pye, trumpet (Fast Cars) and Stuart Martin (trombone) to help fill out the sound. The Igniters’ self titled EP was released on Green Records in early 1982 and sold out its first pressing of 1500 in its first week. “It was just an outlet for the Allniters in the studio. We did a tape, 2JJJ liked it and said ‘why don’t you release it as a record?’ It was an attempt at dub reggae and not at all the Allniters’ sound, but a lot of people put it down because we’re white and Dub is instantly black. That’s a little unfair. Anyway, it was never meant as a record release. People liked it so it was released, and one review said we should smoke a bit more and slow it down... again it’s being compared to slower Dub Reggae. This is Reggae which might be a bit more up tempo. Why can’t it be our own version without comparison? What’s the point in doing the same as everyone else. Someone else said it could be great background kitchen music. So what, let it be whatever YOU want it to be, as long as it’s listened to somewhere and enjoyed.” (i) The Igniters' second EP '85' was recorded in June 1984 at Trackdown studios in Bondi Junction with engineer Simon Leadley, who had recorded the demos for the first Igniters EP at Kent Street. Four tracks were recorded over several days and the 12 inch EP was released in April 1985 on Green Records. The line up for the second EP was Stuart Crysell (G), Mark Taylor (K), Phillip Ayres (Sax), Steve Luke (Tmb) together with Toni Allaylis, Simon Dee and Kate Swadling on vocals, Cliff Griggs (D) (Spy V Spy) and Mike Weiley (G) (Spy V Spy), Patou Powell (V) (Caribe) and Dave Kimber (K on Man Through The Door) Cover design created by David Debb for the Igniters self- titled first EP. Igniters press sheet for the self titled 12" release.[ii] Members Past & Present Martin Fabok - Guitar, Bass Graham Hood - Bass Stuart Crysell - Guitar Dave Debb - Drums Mark Taylor - Organ, Keyboards Kirk Pengilly - Saxaphone Phillip Ayres - Saxaphone Dave Pye - Trumpet Stuart Martin - Trombone Patou Powell - Vocals Tony Allaylis - Backing Vocals Simon Dee - Backing Vocals Kate Swadling - Backing Vocals Cliff Grigg - Drums Mike Weiley - Guitar Dave Kimber - Keyboards (Man Through The Door) Discography 1981: Igniters self titled. 12" EP 1985: 85. 12" EP On the Road 7" Single On The Road 7" single Acknowledgement & Sources Written by Mark Taylor. May 2025. Additional Sources [i] Response to reviews by the music press, which the Igniters were granted the opportunity to respond in RAM Magazine with Steve Kulak [ii] Igniters press release from the collection of Mark Taylor. HOME BANDS ARCHIVE