Ska-punk giants, The Selecter, and The Beat, are joining forces for an Australasian tour that will see them hitting New Zealand shores in early 2018 for two special co-headlining shows in Auckland and Wellington.
 
The Selecter and The Beat emerged from the UK’s late 70s/early 80s ska revival - AKA the ‘2 Tone movement’ - which also gave rise to the likes of The Specials and Madness. Renowned for putting on energetic shows, packed with back-to-back hits, each band will play a full set at the Powerstation in Auckland on Wednesday, January 24 and the Opera House in Wellington on Thursday, January 25.
 
The Australasian tour follows their critically-acclaimed sold-out tour of the UK, which started out as six dates but was promptly increased to nearly 40 shows because of the phenomenal demand for tickets.
 
The Selecter is led by their frontwoman Pauline Black, alongside a talented band of musicians, and co-fronted by original member Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson. The anarchic passion that fuelled the band’s gigs during the 2 Tone era is still there, with hits such asThree Minute Hero, Missing Words and On My Radio, just as relevant and alive today as they were 30 years ago. The enduring classics come thick and fast in the show, interspersed with the band’s newer material, including songs from 2015’s critically-acclaimed album, Subculture, which was produced by dub-master Prince Fatty. 
 
The Beat, fronted by Ranking Roger, released their spectacular fourth album Bounce (the first in more than 30 years) in September 2016. The album shows off every gleaming aspect of one of the most musically diverse bands to come out of the multi-cultural explosion that remade British pop from 1979 onwards. Joining Roger in the revitalised band is his son Ranking Junior AKA Matthew Murphy - a powerhouse MC who brings to the band an update on the toasting that made Ranking Roger such a pivotal part of the original band. The same energy that pumped through the hit singles of the 80s - Mirror In The Bathroom, Stand Down Margaret and Too Nice To Talk To – is still The Beat’s driving force.
 
The Beat And The Selecter
 
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24 – POWERSTATION, AUCKLAND
THURSDAY JANUARY 25 – OPERA HOUSE, WELLINGTON
SATURDAY JANUARY 27 – THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE QLD
SUNDAY JANUARY 28 – THE METRO, SYDNEY NSW
MONDAY JANUARY 29 – THE FORUM, MELBOURNE VIC
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 31 – THE GOV, ADELAIDE, SA
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 1 – ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH, WA
 
Tickets on sale Friday May 5 from 10am at www.mjrpresents.com/