Blab Music
New York State of Ska Announces Four-Show Tour Featuring Abruptors, Girth Control, Ben Basile, and The Doomstompers
New York State of Ska is turning up the heat with a four‑show swing through the Empire State, bringing a rotating lineup of hometown favorites to venues across the region.
The tour will unfold over August and September 2026. Fans can catch the Abruptors and Girth Control on August 14 at No Fun in Troy and August 15 at Area 54 in Buffalo. Brooklyn’s Brooklyn borough will host Ben Basile on September 25 at The Broadway, while the final stop—September 26 at Kaal Rock Park in Poughkeepsie—features The Doomstompers. Each night the local act takes the headline spot, letting the crowd experience a full ska‑centric set while supporting a fellow New York musician.
Ticketing is straightforward. General admission is $15 and VIP packages run $20 for the first two nights. Age limits apply: 18+ in Troy, 21+ in Brooklyn, and open‑to‑all ages in Buffalo and Poughkeepsie, where the final show is free.
The Abruptors, a Buffalo‑based trio that has been with Asian Man Records since 2015, head the first two dates. Their 2024 release, Everything You Know Is Wrong, tackles mental‑health themes and social commentary through a blend of ska, reggae, and rocksteady. The band has earned a reputation in the regional ska circuit for tight musicianship and energetic live shows.
Girth Control hails from Albany and was formed in 2014 by members of Public Access and The Slaughterhouse Chorus. The trio is known for high‑energy ska‑punk sing‑alongs that mix humor with earnestness. Their sound reflects the third‑wave ska tradition of the late 1980s and 1990s, marrying Caribbean‑influenced rhythms with a punk edge.
Ben Basile, a Hudson Valley bassist, educator, and composer, takes the stage in Brooklyn. He has performed with Boston’s Big D and the Kids Table since 2013 and co‑founded the Poughkeepsie Jazz Project. His solo debut, Benergy, dropped in May 2025 on Sleep Walk Sounds, an imprint of Wiretap Records. The album fuses ska, reggae, and jazz, showcasing Basile’s versatility and long‑standing presence in the New York music community.
Queens‑based The Doomstompers round out the tour. The punk‑rocksteady outfit formed in 2025 and released Take A Beat on Bad Time Records on June 12, 2026. They cite 1960s Jamaican ska, reggae, rocksteady, and influences from Bad Brains, The Beastie Boys, and MF Doom. Their organ‑forward lineup pays homage to New York City’s gritty culture while adding a contemporary ska flavor.
The rotating format gives each artist a headline night in their own city, creating a full‑band experience for local fans and spotlighting regional talent. The tour also aligns with a broader resurgence of ska and reggae acts across the United States, as the genre continues to draw new audiences through live performances.
As the dates draw near, the four acts are busy touring and promoting their recent releases. The Abruptors are on the road in support of Everything You Know Is Wrong, Girth Control is touring with fresh material from their 2024 EP, Ben Basile is promoting Benergy while touring with his jazz ensemble, and The Doomstompers are building a following in the New York punk scene. The free, all‑ages show in Poughkeepsie offers a low‑barrier entry point that could broaden ska’s reach to younger listeners.
Overall, the New York State of Ska tour demonstrates how regional ska and reggae acts can collaborate to create a cohesive, rotating lineup that benefits both artists and audiences. With dates set in four distinct venues, the tour highlights the diversity of the state’s music scene and the ongoing vitality of ska and reggae in contemporary American music.
The tour will unfold over August and September 2026. Fans can catch the Abruptors and Girth Control on August 14 at No Fun in Troy and August 15 at Area 54 in Buffalo. Brooklyn’s Brooklyn borough will host Ben Basile on September 25 at The Broadway, while the final stop—September 26 at Kaal Rock Park in Poughkeepsie—features The Doomstompers. Each night the local act takes the headline spot, letting the crowd experience a full ska‑centric set while supporting a fellow New York musician.
Ticketing is straightforward. General admission is $15 and VIP packages run $20 for the first two nights. Age limits apply: 18+ in Troy, 21+ in Brooklyn, and open‑to‑all ages in Buffalo and Poughkeepsie, where the final show is free.
The Abruptors, a Buffalo‑based trio that has been with Asian Man Records since 2015, head the first two dates. Their 2024 release, Everything You Know Is Wrong, tackles mental‑health themes and social commentary through a blend of ska, reggae, and rocksteady. The band has earned a reputation in the regional ska circuit for tight musicianship and energetic live shows.
Girth Control hails from Albany and was formed in 2014 by members of Public Access and The Slaughterhouse Chorus. The trio is known for high‑energy ska‑punk sing‑alongs that mix humor with earnestness. Their sound reflects the third‑wave ska tradition of the late 1980s and 1990s, marrying Caribbean‑influenced rhythms with a punk edge.
Ben Basile, a Hudson Valley bassist, educator, and composer, takes the stage in Brooklyn. He has performed with Boston’s Big D and the Kids Table since 2013 and co‑founded the Poughkeepsie Jazz Project. His solo debut, Benergy, dropped in May 2025 on Sleep Walk Sounds, an imprint of Wiretap Records. The album fuses ska, reggae, and jazz, showcasing Basile’s versatility and long‑standing presence in the New York music community.
Queens‑based The Doomstompers round out the tour. The punk‑rocksteady outfit formed in 2025 and released Take A Beat on Bad Time Records on June 12, 2026. They cite 1960s Jamaican ska, reggae, rocksteady, and influences from Bad Brains, The Beastie Boys, and MF Doom. Their organ‑forward lineup pays homage to New York City’s gritty culture while adding a contemporary ska flavor.
The rotating format gives each artist a headline night in their own city, creating a full‑band experience for local fans and spotlighting regional talent. The tour also aligns with a broader resurgence of ska and reggae acts across the United States, as the genre continues to draw new audiences through live performances.
As the dates draw near, the four acts are busy touring and promoting their recent releases. The Abruptors are on the road in support of Everything You Know Is Wrong, Girth Control is touring with fresh material from their 2024 EP, Ben Basile is promoting Benergy while touring with his jazz ensemble, and The Doomstompers are building a following in the New York punk scene. The free, all‑ages show in Poughkeepsie offers a low‑barrier entry point that could broaden ska’s reach to younger listeners.
Overall, the New York State of Ska tour demonstrates how regional ska and reggae acts can collaborate to create a cohesive, rotating lineup that benefits both artists and audiences. With dates set in four distinct venues, the tour highlights the diversity of the state’s music scene and the ongoing vitality of ska and reggae in contemporary American music.
