The Toasters

In their 41st year the Toasters are hitting the gas, not the brakes. With an international all-star line-up their whirlwind global tour continues unabated across the continents with performances scheduled in the United States, Russia, Ireland, Mexico, Costa Rica as well as a full summer of European Festival plays including Overjam (Slovenia), Mighty Sounds (CZ) and many others.

Formed on the Lower East Side of NYC in 1981 the band is the longest running US SKA formation. They bridge the gap between England’s 2-Tone movement and the American Ska explosion of the 90’s which they are rightfully credited with starting. During the 3rd Wave Ska revival The Toasters formed the famous Moon Records label and kick-started the careers of dozens of bands.

In January 2017 The Toasters will be releasing a video for “House of Soul”, a 45RPM single which was released in 2016. The band has expanded their own private label Toasters branded hot sauce with a new flavor, “East Side Heat”. The band will also be releasing the “Live in Zagreb” vinyl in April.

“In my opinion, The Toasters are to ska in America the 1980s and beyond what The Specials were to ska in the U.K. in the late ’70s and early ’80s, and what the Skatalites were to ska in Jamaica in the 1960s. The Toasters were innovators, creators, shapers of the music, evolving it in a fresh direction, blending it with the cultural influences in a very American manner, and I mean that in a completely complimentary way. Just as Byron Lee & the Dragonaires brought professionalism and polish to ska, allowing others to benefit from the fruits of their labor, so too did the Toasters’ music allow numerous other bands to share in the spotlight of skill and success, many of whom have gone on to great heights. Upon the shoulders of giants.
Oh, yeah, and they kick ass!“

-Heather Augustyn, Author of SKA , An Oral History

By the numbers:

• 6000+ live shows
• CBGB’S core top 20 artist
• Mojo Magazine ranked #4 SKA band of all time
• Bandsintown #5 hardest working band 2014
• Sponsorships include Reverend Guitars, Ernie Ball, Orange Amplification, Danny Cash
  Hot Sauce, Pickworld and Ska Brewing
• 100% kick ass

Please note this is an 18+ event, and the venue is accessed by stairs with no lift. If you have any enquiries please email thetreehouse@cheeseandgrain.com