The Dubtones 
 
Blending their own mix of ska-punk since 2005, no apologies for hearing influences from The Clash and The Specials by way of The Ruts & The Jam, as the 4 piece Dublin band The Dubtones wear their influences on their sleeves! 2006 saw their first release, the “One For The Road” 6-track mini album, a hybrid of straight-up Punk Rock (Subhuman/Outside/One For The Road), Ska-punk (Neurotic/Cops Are On Their Way) & Dub-punk (Against The World). Constant gigging saw the band attract two tribes of fans, predictably enough they were immediately embraced by the punk fraternity, as the material matured the ska scene equally saw the appeal.

 Like many bands, personnel changes were inevitable; they reverted to a 3 piece and released the 14 track album “End Of Transmission” in 2010 on their own Lower The Tone label. It’s a blistering piece of work, again spanning skankable ska (Capture The Flag/Radio Breakdown/Propaganduh!), menacing punk (Subversion/Smalltown Hero/Slowmotion Solitude), & dub (Blood For Freedom).

 Busy on the gig circuit since their inception, they have clocked up some 260 shows, including many headliners. They have opened for a who’s-who of legendary ska and punk outfits; Bad Manners / The Selecter / Neville Staple / Citizen Fish / Devils’ Brigade / The Lurkers / The Vibrators & The Damned, to name but a few. They have played the main stage at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool (the biggest punk / alternative festival in the world) and returned this year after a gap of 5 years, and Ireland’s home-grown Booleigh Ska Festival in Kildare. Closing the year off by opening for Rancid in Belfast (at the bands request), and having a new mini album (Asylum) already in the bag for release in the first quarter of 2013, it was a year to remember.

 Not all agitators are subversive, but The Dubtones certainly are!!!

 So why wait? Go see them, check out the tunes or book them now! It’s only a matter of time...

Epitaph Records is an independent music label founded in Los Angeles by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. Early releases from a variety of punk heavyweights spawned what became known as the 90s punk explosion. 

Along the way Epitaph proudly launched its sister label ANTI-, representing unique and distinguished acts. From the beginning Epitaph’s mission has been to serve the musicians on its diverse and creative roster - an artist-first model, radical twenty years ago, and much imitated today. 

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