Strangeways: 30 Years of Ska
directed by Bruce Glasberg
starring Bruce Glasberg, Will Haynes, Jason Nwagbaraocha
Ska music was huge in Florida in the 1990s. The Third Wave Ska movement was in full swing, and there were many fine local bands. Multi band bills of local talent regularly sold out the 800-seat State Theatre in St Petersburg. Several Florida bands made waves nationally, including Less Than Jake, Magadog, and the Strangeways. The Strangeways opened shows for pretty much every national ska band to hit Florida and were regular headliners, playing everywhere from theaters, to clubs, benefit concerts, and even a nudist resort. The band released two albums on the Moon Ska label, Corporate Monkey and Another Round. In 2023, the Strangeways turned 30 years old. Trombonist Bruce Glasberg assembled the documentary Strangeways: 30 Years of Ska to celebrate this milestone. The celebration of music and camaraderie has been making its way around the film festival circuit and is now available to everyone on You Tube.
The movie is made up of concert footage, TV spots and informal interviews with the band members. The performances were filmed at venues in the Tampa / Sarasota area mainly in the ’90s. The footage shows the band’s power as a live act, but also deceptively small audiences — the Strangeways could fill large clubs at the peak of the ska boom. The performance pieces are intercut with informal interviews with the band members. They share stories about the origin of the band and career highlights, such as touring with the Skatalites, playing CBGB’s, and releasing music on Moon Ska Records.
The band was formed by trumpeter Will Haynes. Bassist and vocalist Jason Nwagbaraocha also spent time with the revered pioneering New York ska band, the Toasters. Going into their 31st year, the Strangeways are still together and playing occasionally around Southwest Florida.
