Stubborn All Stars

The Stubborn All Stars formed in London in the early 2000s, with a lineup that included Martin "Dizzy" Rascal on vocals and harmonica, Sam "Sammy G" Gee on guitar, James "Jukes" Ferguson on bass, Jesse "Fats" Clayton on drums, and Mark "Diggles" Diggins on keyboards. Their debut album, 'Back With A New Batch,' came out in 2004 and gave the band its first real foothold, with the title track becoming a staple in their set.

They put out records fairly steadily over the next decade and a half, including 'No Alibis' in 2007, 'The World's a Mess' in 2012, 'Mighty' in 2015, and 'Pure Control' in 2020. Their sound, rooted in ska and soul, gradually picked up other influences like reggae and funk. Songs like 'Catch That Train' and 'Glimmer Of Hope' show the band working with a broader palette while keeping the horns and rhythms up front.

The band toured a fair bit, playing festivals and sharing bills with acts like Desmond Dekker and The Skatalites. Their lyrics often touched on social issues, which gave some weight to the danceable grooves. They weren't immune to criticism, with some early listeners finding their take on ska a bit too familiar, but they kept at it, building a catalog that feels more like a steady workshop than a dramatic arc.