21 and over
Advanced tickets available at SOhO (cash only) or online at www.sohosb.com
Call (805) 962-7776 for dinner reservations.

The English Beat In Concert at SOhO

Back by popular demand! Your favorite dance band from the 80’s, The English Beat, returns to SOhO! Best known for their hit songs: “Mirror in the Bathroom”, “Save it for Later” and “I Confess”. The Beat’s songs deal with themes of love, unity, or political protest, all over a dance beat that melds ska and pop with soul, reggae, and even some late-1970s punk influences.

Hailing from working-class Birmingham, England, Dave Wakeling and The English Beat rushed on to the music scene in 1979. It was a time of social, political and musical upheaval. Into this storm they came, trying to calm the waters with their simple message of love and unity set to a great dance Beat.

The band managed to fuse all of their respective musical influences – soul, reggae, pop and punk – into a unique sound that was highly danceable. Along with contemporaries such as The Specials, The Selecter, and Madness, The English Beat became one of the most popular and influential bands of the British Ska movement.

Over the course of the three albums, The English Beat achieved great success in their home country, charting several singles into the top 10. In addition to their UK chart success, in America the band found a solid base of young fans eager to dance to the their hypnotic rhythms. Their constant touring with iconic bands such as The Clash and The Police helped to boost their popularity in the States.

Dave Wakeling once said that every great band only has three really good albums. And true to form, The English Beat disbanded in 1983, after their third album, “Special Beat Service”.

Then, in February 2003, we saw a dream come true for Dave and many Beat fans as The English Beat reunited for a mini-tour in the UK, culminating in their acclaimed, sold out command performance at the Royal Festival Hall! Dave, Everett, Roger, Blockhead and the star of the show, Saxa, took the crowd by storm! It was a magical homecoming for Dave and a really wonderful experience for the fans, with band members and fans gathering from around the globe for a night of irie, ska-ful rock-steady Beat!

Now, with the “reunion” aspect of The English Beat clearly behind them, the band keeps producing amazing and captivating live shows. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be blown away by the ever-changing King of Ska!