About Us

THE UPGRADES are a well-oiled ska-punk-machine from Dublin. The depth of their commitment to the genre is very evident, and altho they have firmly established themselves as a ska band at heart their music clearly points to a targetted audience more in touch with mainstream commercial music than just a niche market of ska enthusiasts. The Upgrades have successfully fused modern day influences with reggae rhythm and punchy beats. The hints of modern pop punk, and vocals reminiscient of many "anthem-esque" type rock songs with traditionally catchy chorus's will stir up even the most stoic listener!

The band have covered a lot of tracks on the scene in the two years they've been together and are no stranger to playing gigs with bands and audiences of an entirely diffrent genre. Most recently they supported popular touring ska bands The Planet Smashers and Mustard Plug on the Irish date of the 2006 Ska Is Dead Tour. They were also picked as the opening act on the Irish date of the 2006 International TASTE OF CHAOS Tour in the Olympia, sharing the stage with Taking Back Sunday, Alexisonfire, Saosin, Anti-Flag, Senses Fail and Underoath. During the summer they were picked to play at the Staatsforsten Open Air Festival in Germany. Upon their return they played the Cula Outdoor Music Festival in Wexford along with Kila and The Blizzards.
Other high profile gigs include support slots with Canadian reggae superstars Bedouin Sound Clash, American rock/reggae band State Radio, ska legend Neville Staple (ex-The Specials), The Beat, and Mark Foggo's Skasters.

Along with this hectic schedule The Upgrades are presently working hard towards recording an official full length with the aim to release it sometime next year.

Influences

The Planet Smashers, Streetlight Manifesto, Rx Bandits, Mad Caddies, Big D And The Kids Table, Reel Big Fish, Rancid, NoFx, The Slackers, The Specials... and loads more