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A look at the history of Melbourne based Sak band The Ska Vendors. THE SKA VENDORS The Ska Vendors, based in Victoria, have been delighting lovers of ska and rocksteady for more than two decades. Featuring top shelf singers and musicians, The Vendors reprise ska and rocksteady classics and 2Tone standards while also delivering originals that are true to their roots. The Ska Vendors formed in early 2003 when Steve ‘Stevie’ Montgomery met Steve Phillips, at the SkaBar in Melbourne’s Royal Artillery Hotel. Scottish-born Stevie grew up singing hymns and gospel, and playing trumpet and guitar. He got into Madness and 2Tone more generally as a teen during the peak of ska in the UK in the early 1980s. A decade and a half later, now living in Melbourne, Stevie joined The Mighty Mighty Swankers who played an eclectic musical style, performed a few gigs and released an eight track EP. Meantime, Steve Phillips had been playing drums since his teens in Adelaide. He first heard ska at a 1979 gig by The Jumpers, generally acknowledged as Australia’s first ska band, but really got into it a few years later while listening to a friend’s Madness cassette. In 1986, Steve helped found Just Kidding, hometown ska favourites who released two singles and an EP on their own label, and also had songs included on two European compilation albums. Steve left the band in 1989 and shortly afterwards moved to Melbourne to pursue work as a graphic designer. Bonding over their mutual love of ska, and tapping into a resurgence of the genre across the city, Stevie and Steve began recruiting musicians for a band of their own. Then, as Stevie tells it, they “had the audacity to invite the late great Lowell Morris to join”. Lowell was the drummer with The Caribs, a band featuring Australian musicians, who helped shape early ska in Jamaica.[i] At The Ska Vendors’ first rehearsal, Lowell apparently was stunned by the pace. “His face was priceless as he watched us bash out our tunes at 100 miles an hour,” Stevie recalled. “He stuck around though and we cherish the time we had with him.” The Ska Vendors’ first line-up included: Steve Montgomery on lead vocals; Steve Phillips on drums; Lowell Morris on congas; James Majernik on guitar; Luke Walsh on bass; Gus Kenny on keys; Stuart Ferguson on trumpet, and; Eoin Pehm on trombone. The Vendors played their first gig as support to local indie band The Specifics at The Dan O’Connell Hotel in Carlton. Their set, stuffed with originals from Stevie, was lapped up by an appreciative crowd and was recorded by radio presenter and DJ, and longtime supporter, Gary Skaman. With that, The Ska Vendors were away, gigging regularly and filling dancefloors at venues around Melbourne, especially the Morning Star Hotel in Williamstown, a bayside suburb that was home to several band members. From the first, The Vendors’ gigs have been joyous celebrations of the offbeat. They quickly built a following amongst rudes, rastas, skins and mods. And they were called up to support touring 2Tone greats including The Selecter, Bad Manners, and the SpecialBeat featuring Ranking Roger and Neville Staples. Along the way, The Vendors refined and expanded their sound. “We started off doing a lot of our own songs and playing very fast,” Stevie said. “We knew that we needed to learn our craft in terms of doing Jamaican stuff so we did our homework, listening to the experts. As well as original Jamaican bands, we took inspiration from [UK ska and rocksteady band] Intensified and [US ska, reggae and soul outfit] The Slackers. Our sound become more cultured, more informed by what we were listening to. We wove in Jamaican rhythm and blues and ska and rocksteady. And Melbourne’s got its own unique sound from its rich history of ska, reggae and rocksteady. All those ingredients created what we are.” In the DIY tradition of 2Tone, The Vendors have relied on community radio to promote their music and gigs, and on the broader ska community to put out recordings. Two releases in 2005 were recordings of a performance on Mohair Slim’s Blue Juice radio program on community broadcaster PBS, and of a gig at The Corner Hotel. Their first two EPs were Vendors’ Stew, which was released on Skaman Records in 2006, and The Ska Vendors, which was produced by Rob Rolfe in 2007. Each ranged across originals and covers, showcasing their songwriting and musical chops as well as their commitment to traditional sounds. I Don’t Want You To Go, from Vendors’ Stew, was among 44 tracks selected for the United Colors of Ska 4.0 album, released on the Pork Pie label in 2007. The reggae instrumental, Skin Up Matt from The Ska Vendors, was included on the Birth of the Fourth Wave of Ska compilation album, released by Angel City Records in 2018. Another eight-track EP, The Ska Vendors, was released on Nicky Bomba’s Transmitter Records in 2008. After a year’s break, The Ska Vendors re-emerged in 2009 at Ska Nation, an annual festival run by The Resignators’ frontman Francis Harrison. Over the next several years, in between a steady roster of gigs, The Vendors produced another seven recordings. Another live performance on Blue Juice was recorded and released as a five track CD, Arrivederci, and their contribution at a benefit for the Melbourne Crusaders Scooter Club in 2010 was turned into a short-run release titled Just The Tonic Live. This was followed two years later by another six track EP. In 2014, The Vendors’ first full album, Feelin’ Fine , was produced by musician and recording engineer Paul Coyle and released on Transmitter Records, with originals making up nine of the 13 tracks. The Ska Vendors played as the backing band at Jamaica Jump-Up events, moonlighting as The Jump Up Allstars, run by PBS between 2015 and 2017, and at major events like the Jamacia Music and Food Festival, and the Newport Ska, Reggae and Rocksteady Festival . In 2013, The Vendors joined Strange Tenants and The Caribs for a ‘Celebration of Melbourne Ska’ as part of the Melbourne Arts Festival. They’ve had a long association with touring Jamaican musicians including backing Carlos ‘Bonanza Ska’ at an unforgettable Morning Star gig, sharing the stage with celebrated guitarist Eugene Grey, and supporting reggae star Richie Stephens and rocksteady duo Keith and Tex. And they were honoured to be asked to play four dates with Jamaican ska and rocksteady legend, Stranger Cole, during his Australian tour in 2022. Stranger was so impressed with The Vendors that he wrote a tune especially to record with them. More Ska was backed with a cover of Singer Man, with both tracks recorded straight to tape. After a two-year hiatus while Stevie was working as a teaching principal in Qatar, The Ska Vendors returned to the stage and the recording studio in 2024. The single, Good Love Bad, was released in 2024 and an album of the same name in 2025. The Ska Vendors are beloved for their distinctive sound, a blend of foundation tunes and originals written by multiple band members. Stevie is the principal song writer but several others have contributed tunes including Steve Phillips, bassist Chris Rogers, trombonist Russell Roberts, saxophonist Robert Calvert, and Blues Music Victoria’s Hall of Fame inductee Kerri Simpson. “I write some daft things and some serious things,” Stevie said. “I used to go to a local café, Pludo, that made great BLT so I wrote a song about that, bouncy and fun. I also wrote songs like More Than This, Feelin’ Fine and Happy Man about love, my wife, my kids, about being grateful for what I have. There’s a lot of optimism.” Mixed in is a bit of what he calls dark ska, like the tune Tumble Down from The Ska Vendors, which calls out corporate greed. And, while Stevie is the main singer, he shares the mic with Steve, Kerri and vocalist extraordinaire Pat Powell. A classy lineup, a playbook of cracking tunes and an irresistible exuberance have earned The Vendors a loyal local and interstate following. “I think there’s a joyousness for the music,” Stevie said. “We enjoy playing together and we want people to feel good at our gigs. Because sometimes the world can be a bit shitty and we want people to have a bit of soul food.” The Ska Vendors with Lowell Morris on congas (centre ) playing at Williamstown RSL. Photo by Wendy Rowe 2010. Poster of Pat Powell's first appearance with The Ska Vendors at Williamstown RSL 15th June 2012. The Ska Vendors. Back row L-R. Dean Hilson, Steve Phillips, Chris Rogers. Middle Row L-R John Holmes, Michael Havir, Sarah Heffernan, Russel Roberts. Front row L - R Kerry Simpson, Steve Montgomery. Photo by Wally Maloney 2016. Kerry Simpson and Stranger Cole. Photo by Ross Schnioffsky 2022 Members Past & Present Steve Montgomery. - L ead vocals. Steve Phillips. - Drums . John Holmes. - Guitar. Kerry Simpson. - Vocals. Michael Havir. - Keyboard. Chris Rogers. - Bass. Russel Roberts. - Trombone. Dean Hilson. - Saxophone. Pat Powell. - Vocals. Dan Kerr. - Guitar. Ed Farrar. - Trumpet. Baz Turnbull. - Guitar. Stuart Ferguson. - Trumpet. Adrian Reeves. - Keyboard. Tim Webb. - Bass. Lowell Morris. - Congas. (RIP) James Majernik. - Guitar. Luke Walsh. - Bass. Gus Kenny. - Keyboard. Eoin Pehm. - Trombone. Greg Middleton. - Guitar. Michael Sinclair Miller. - Bass. Anthony Murphy. - Guitar. James Thompson. - Bass. Sarah Heffernan. - Trumpet. Dan Worsop. - Saxophone. Robert Calvert. - Saxophone. Justin Forster. - Saxophone. Sammy Valentino. - Saxophone. Players Past & Present Conor Healy. - Drums Luke Collins. - Drums. Nicky Bomba. - Vocals and Drums. Jeff Denny. - Drums. Shannon Yates. - Guitar. Rodrigo Pino. - Guitar. Pete Ryan. - Keyboard. Paul Coyle. - Vocals and Trumpet. Pat Cronin. - Trumpet. Wally Maloney. - Trombone. Kynan Robinson. - Trombone. Peter Slipper. - Trombone. Jason Jennings. - Saxophone. David Williamson. - Saxophone. Paul Williamson. - Saxophone. Discography 2004: Live @ The Dan O'Connell Sept 2004 2005: Live At PBS CD EP 2005: The Corner Hotel August 17, 2015 Live 2006: Vendors Stew CD EP 2008: The Ska Vendors. CD (8 Tracks ) 2009: Arrivederci. CD Recorded live to air on PBS 2010: Just The Tonic CD Live 2012: The Ska Vendors. CD EP (6 Tracks ) 2014: Feeling Fine. CD Album 2022: More Ska. 7" Single. Stranger Cole and The Ska Vendors 2025: Good Love Bad. 7" Single 2025: Good Love Bad. CD/LP Just The Tonic CD - Live Acknowledgement & Sources Researched and written by Lorann Downer. October 2025. Additional Sources [i] David Katz, “The incredible story of the Caribs, the unlikely Australians who shaped ska music,” Factmag, 2015. 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

Since the beginning of 2024, I have been working to create a website to give people an opportunity to view the items that are held in the collection. I believe it is important to share this history with others and hope that they get as much enjoyment out of looking through it as I have in building it. About Me.... The first Ska show that I went to was in 1989 at the Old Greek theatre in Richmond, Victoria where Melbourne's Strange Tenants were headlining a One Show Only return, also supporting that night were The Boxing Tostados from Ballarat and The Late Notes from Sydney. This was a show that changed my life forever. I started to hunt around Melbourne for any recordings I could get my hands on and started to build a small collection of singles and albums. A few years later I would meet Tige Taylor (creator of Bovver Boys Ahoy!) who gave me a bundle of old Ska Posters and Flyers. During the latter half of the 90's I moved to rural Victoria and ended my involvement with the ska scene. Then in 2008 my wife and I moved back to Melbourne and it was great to see that there was still a thriving Ska scene. I spent the next 10 years catching shows where I could and continued to slowly build on my collection of Australian Ska recordings. It was around 2017 when I was going through my collection of items that I started thinking that this is important history. Not only an important history of Australian Ska music, but an important part of the history of Australian Music and culture. How can I improve this? I wanted to grow the collection and be able to preserve what I had and anything else that I could find, for no other reason than ensuring it would be kept safe and not discarded as so much of the history has. I started thinking of ways that I could build on this collection and start to make it meaningful and more encompassing of Australia's Ska history. I began to reach out to a few people who were involved in bands and the ska scene, to see if I could get some old memorabilia from them to add to the collection. I would always offer to pay as I didn't want to appear as if I was trying to get something for nothing. To my surprise, the majority of those I messaged or spoke to were more than happy to pass on some items to add to the collection. I have been very humbled by the generosity of these individuals who have been very supportive of what I am trying to do. I also wanted to think of a way I could show my appreciation to them for entrusting me with their history that they had held onto and kept safe for all those years. In the early 90's I was lucky enough to be part of one of the worlds first Madness tribute bands - Mad Not Madness who would later go on to form the nucleus of Area -7 During this time I also published an Australian Ska Zine called Aus-Ska-Lia which ran for a few issues before becoming a newsletter format which ran for about 8 issues. This was run in collaboration with Kane Docker of Rude Bouy Enterprises. Throughout this period I would randomly pick up flyers from shows and continue to collect vinyl & CD's when I could. I have since started, and continue to research how to best preserve different materials and how to store them for long term preservation. This way I can ensure that the items are kept in the best possible condition. Over the past couple of years I have also been looking at ways to share this history with others. My ultimate goal is to open a museum where people can come in and view all the history in its physical form. I realise that this is some way off being an achievable goal but anyone can win Tattslotto right? Since the beginning of 2024, I have been working to create a website to give people an opportunity to view the items that are held in the collection. I believe it is important to share this history with others and hope that they get as much enjoyment out of looking through it as I have in building it. The website you are now looking at is my 3rd attempt at getting it to a point that I am happy with. I hope you enjoy it. Back to Home