The London International Ska Festival takes place from Thursday 28th March - Sunday 31st March 2013 in various places throughout the city. Why don’t you spend the Easter weekend with some of the best ska musicians around as the festival makes a welcome return to the city.

The festival features over 50 acts from around the world and as this year marks the 51st anniversary of Jamaican independence, you can expect an even more jubilant atmosphere to the proceedings as musicians pay tribute to the country which gave birth to ska.

First established in Jamaica in the late 1950s, ska has undergone a number of transformations as is has been influenced and in turn influences a variety of different musical genres. This festival embraces all forms of ska, from its early roots in the rhythm and blues, mento and calypso traditions through to rocksteady, reggae, 2 Tone, ska-punk and contemporary, 21st century ska music.

Certain musical legends taking to the stage during this year's London International Ska Festival will include Rico Rodriguez, who will be playing one of his fabled live shows. Famed for being one of the earliest musicians to adopt the ska genre, Rico will take to the stage at Camden’s The Jazz Cafe on the opening night of the festival.

A number of other acts performing live during the four day festival will include 2 Tone acts BB Seaton, Buster Shuffle and Trojan Explosion. There's also live music from The Sidewalk Doctors, featuring Lenny Bignell and Nathan Thomas, as well as contemporary acts such as The Splitters.

Make sure to visit the capital while this marvellous festival is taking place, you won’t regret it.