If Ennio Morricone (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) swaggered onto a Tijuana dancefloor, with a touch of Melbourne dust kicked up in the process, chances are the end result would sound exactly like Melbourne Ska Orchestra’s 2025 album The Ballad Of Monte Loco. And in 2026, this bustling collection of desert-soaked ska and reggae songs is taking full flight, with the ARIA Award-winning collective announcing a huge run of Australian headline shows this year, along with the, as yet unannounced, release of a deluxe version of The Ballad Of Monte Loco, aptly dubbed Monte Loco Rides Again.
Melbourne Ska Orchestra will be bringing the full spaghetti-ska big-band – reinvigorating the golden age of ska through a modern and cinematic lens.
Melbourne Ska Orchestra boasts some of the country’s most revered performers and musicians, spearheaded by the charismatic Nicky Bomba (John Butler Trio, Bomba, Busyamento) at the helm. Forming in the early 2000s, Melbourne Ska Orchestra have spent decades weaving creative magic, from their self-titled debut which sparked sold-out national tours and international festival appearances through to two ARIA Award wins and several nominations, millions of streams, and a reputation as being one of the country’s most celebrated and cutting-edge exports.
Perpetually pushing the boundaries of ska and reggae, with the group also comprising up to 26 members spanning vocals, horns, keys, percussion, woodwind and more, Melbourne Ska Orchestra’s The Ballad Of Monte Loco is a collection of songs soaked in rich storytelling, western smoulder and an inescapably infectious energy that once again expanded the group’s sonic identity into tantalising new territory – it’s cinematic, it’s got swagger, it’s got heat – the costumes, the horns blazing, the rhythm section rattling the walls, fans can expect to sweat, dance, and leave with a massive grin on their face. That’s the guarantee. A joyful and unstoppable creative force to be reckoned with, the reality of life on the road for a band like MSO, brandishing an army of musicians (or ‘the full wagon’, as the band puts it) at all times is not without its own unique logistics when it comes to touring and life on the road. But, as Bomba reveals, there’s no downside to taking this village of insatiable professionals on the road after all this time, and the upcoming Monte Loco Rides Again Tour is no exception. ‘I’ve gotta say, it’s always INCREDIBLE!’
‘There’s nothing like the feeling of MSO getting back on the road. It’s like herding the most talented, beautiful cats you’ve ever seen. This show will transport you into a world of saloon-ready soundscapes, Latin licks, hazy desert swoon and so much more, do not miss your chance to revel in the unforgettable creative world of Melbourne Ska Orchestra.
‘Just come dance,’ says Bomba. ‘Seriously. Life’s heavy right now for a lot of people and we want MSO shows to be the place where you leave all of that at the door for two hours. We put everything into these shows, every night, every city.
‘See you on the floor.’
Friday, 18 September at the Hotel Brunswick – this show is guaranteed to sell out – tickets available now from www.moshtix.com.au.
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