This weekend kicks off with a spicy taste of the Caribbean when Indie Fridays showcase ska and reggae bands from all over Canada. They include One Night Band, a Montreal-based ska band hot off the 2008 Vans Warped Tour, Hyper Ninja Clan, The Good Times and Walk Off The Earth
Since its beginnings in 2003, One Night Band has been on stage night after night, luring spectators out of their seats and onto the dance floor with its sizzling grooves. The sextet has built its reputation by adding its own flavour to Jamaican classics. Listen for echoes of Toots and the Maytals, The Skatalites, Prince Buster, Ken Boothe and, of course, Bob Marley.
The concert runs 7-10 p.m. tonight at the Library Square.
The Bhangra Nation Festival moves into the venue on Saturday from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Bhangra is a folk dance originating in Punjab. Historically, it was a dance that celebrated the ever-important harvest time and illustrated the sowing of seeds, hoeing, cutting of wheat and the selling of crops. The festival features singers, musicians and hundreds of Bhangra dancers, performing to both traditional and modern hip-hop and rhythm and blues-infused Punjabi music. Visit www.bhangranation.com.
Also on Saturday, the Motorcycle Charity Ride4Kidney leaves City Centre on its fifth annual ride to raise awareness and funds for kidney disease. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the ride start time is 10:30 a.m. Notorious (formerly SKILLicit), Behind the Voices and Partners in Poetry will perform in Mississauga, while Mama Kin will rock the riders at the finish line in Turkey Point.
Visit www.r4k.ca.
Finally, on Sunday from 7-9 p.m., the Mississauga Pops Concert Band returns to perform a selection of classical, swing, jazz, pop, rock, and Broadway tunes under the stars.
All events are free.
jchin@mississauga.net
