News · 11 June 2026

Melbourne Ska Orchestra Announce ‘Monte Loco Rides Again’ Tour 2026

Melbourne Ska Orchestra are hitting the road again this August, September and October.

Returning last year with their acclaimed album The Ballad Of Monte Loco, Melbourne Ska Orchestra are taking the album on an encore run of dates across the country this August and September.

Along with announcing their new tour, Melbourne Ska Orchestra have also revealed they are set to release a deluxe version of The Ballad Of Monte Loco, aptly dubbed Monte Loco Rides Again.

Speaking about the album and the band’s new Spaghetti Western influence, founder Nicky Bomba reveals, “This whole era is the Ballad of Monte Loco. Think Ennio Morricone meets a Tijuana dance floor, with a little Melbourne dust kicked up in the process. It's cinematic, it's got swagger, it's got heat. We're bringing the full show: the costumes, the horns blazing, the rhythm section rattling the walls. Fans can expect to sweat, dance, and leave with a massive grin on their face. That's the guarantee.”

Commencing on Friday 7 August in Adelaide at The Gov, Melbourne Ska Orchestra will be bringing the signature big band party experience through Fremantle, Geelong, Mt Evelyn, Hobart, Forth, Sunshine Coast, Brunswick Heads, Brisbane, Melbourne, Castlemaine, San Remo and Sydney, before wrapping things up in Cairns on Saturday 24 October at Tanks Arts Centre.

Tickets for all shows are on sale now via melbourneskaorchestra.com.

When it comes to life on the road, Bomba absolutely loves travelling the globe with MSO. “I've gotta say, it's always INCREDIBLE,” Bomba says of touring. “There's nothing like the feeling of MSO getting back on the road. It's like herding the most talented, beautiful cats you've ever seen. We've got 20-something musicians, crew, gear... It's basically a small village on the move. But honestly? That's the magic of it. Everyone in this band is a pro, everyone loves what we do, and the moment we hit the stage together, it all makes complete sense. The logistics are wild but the music makes it worth every lengthy spreadsheet and 6am lobby call.”

“We're a bunch of musos who fell in love with ska, reggae and Latin music and just never stopped,” Bomba adds. “There's no ego, just energy. When 20-odd people lock into a groove together, and the room starts moving, that's what we are. That feeling, right there.”

Catch Melbourne Ska Orchestra at The Gov on Friday 7 August. Tickets on sale now via melbourneskaorchestra.com.