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SKA SMACKDOWN II
Returns to Garden Amp
November 4th, 2025 by Kevin Gomez
Ska Smackdown featured three headlining ska punk bands earlier this year at the Garden Amp in Garden Grove. The evening featured performances from Voodoo Glow Skulls, Mustard Plug, and Buck-O-Nine, along with a half dozen other bands that made for a wonderful night of skanking.
Well, things went so well that Mustard Plug is back, kicking off the new year on January 10th, 2026 at the Garden Amp for Ska Smackdown II.
Mustard Plug will be going into their 35th year as a band next year and they are always ready to bring a ska party to a town near you.
With antics that include prop butcher knives and their giant mustard bottle mascot in a suit, they will surely be playing hits like “Mr. Smiley,” “Beer,” “You,” and “On and On.”
Led by original members Dave Kirchgessner on vocals and guitarist, and vocalist Colin Clive, you don’t want to miss their live show.
This time, Ska Smackdown II will feature fellow co-headliners The Toasters. The longtime band are one of the pioneers of what’s been known as the Third Wave of ska, inspiring many ska bands of the ‘90s – like Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake – while paving the way for today’s ska bands – like Bite Me Bambi and Chase Long Beach.
Despite their last album, 2007’s “Ska is Dead,” Ska Smackdown proves that even two decades later the genre is anything but.
The festival will once again take up both stages at the Garden Amp; the main outdoor amphitheater, as well as the indoors, more intimate Locker Room. Once again joining Mustard Plug will be Half Past Two. The Orange County ska band was one of the highlights of the last Smackdown, and will no doubt put on another show-stopping set.
The Iron Roses will also be playing in 2026. I caught their set at Punk Rock Bowling last year for the first time and they really won me over with their high-energy performance. Featuring Boysetsfire lead singer Nathan Gray, the band presents a combination of ska-punk positivity. I spoke with Ceschi Ramos of Codefendants recently who played a festival with them earlier this month and praised high friends in The Iron Roses.
Also returning will be The Goodwin Club and Hooray for Our Side. The latter performed a tribute to Jimmy Buffet with a ska cover of “Margaritaville.”
The night will kick off with performances from Chudson (who I keep hearing great things about), Louser, Chencha Berrinches (ska en es spañol), and Calypso’s Curse.
Tickets are available now, so go ahead and snap them up while you can.
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SID 251103 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
