DOORS 6.30PM // KITCHEN OPENS 6.30PM // SHOW STARTS 8.30PM TROUBADOR PRESENTS STRANGER COLE (Jamaica) MORE SKA! AUSTRALIAN TOUR with The Ska Vendors, Red’s Tribe and Sunny Coast Ska Collective His name may be "Stranger" but he's no stranger to the city (Melbourne) that has been his second home since his visit in 2010 at the invitation of the Melbourne Ska Orchestra. For the first time, the beloved Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae pioneer Stranger Cole will embark on a nationwide tour taking in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne (of course). Despite a worldwide cult following and the potential to play much larger venues, Stranger Cole has deliberately chosen to do intimate shows across the nation, giving his "Australian family" (as he calls them), a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see and hear Jamaican music royalty up close and personal. PBS FM musicologist Mohair Slim has curated a special set list that will feature Stranger Cole performing his biggest hits ("Bangarang", "Artibella", "Rough and Tough", etc. ), as well as some wonderful ska, rocksteady,  and reggae rarities that he has never sung on stage anywhere in the world. Having penned and recorded the 45 RPM single ‘More Ska' with Melbourne stalwarts The Ska Vendors in 2022, Stranger Cole's tour will also serve as the long-awaited official release party for the record, all as he takes a lap of honour around Australia. Stranger Cole is, simply put, a giant of Reggae. He is one of the most important living links to the birth of the Jamaican sound with a career full of hits spanning all eras beginning with the proto-Ska “Rough and Tough” for Duke Reid in 1962. His mid-sixties rocksteady duets with Patsy Todd and Gladdy Anderson, respectively, are considered to be a high point of the genre. In 1968, Stranger Cole’s “Bangarang” with its choppy keyboard and one-drop drumming marked the beginning of a new sound, Reggae. Stranger Cole’s voice is distinctive, but his live performances are equally famous. Irrepressibly happy with boundless energy belying his 84 years on the planet, he connects with the audience like very few can. While he is constantly touring internationally (in the last year he has played the USA, Mexico, Germany, Spain, England) to name a few, Stranger Cole's love affair with Australia is as enduring as Australia’s love affair with him. By popular demand, Stranger Cole returns to Australia to perform the ska, rocksteady and reggae songs that have made him a living legend...  As he says, “MORE LIFE!” …………………………………………… MORE SKA! DECEMBER 2025 AUSTRALIAN TOUR Friday 05 – The River, Margaret River WA Saturday 06 – Lynott’s Lounge, Perth Friday 12 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane Saturday 13 – Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne Sunday 14 – Jive Bar, Adelaide Friday 19 – Paddo RSL, Sydney Tickets on sale now. www.troubadourpresents.com STRANGER COLE'S HISTORY Born Wilburn Theodore Cole in 1945 in West Kingston, Stranger Cole was given the nickname “Stranger” because he didn’t resemble anyone else in his family. Stranger was introduced to music through his father, a carpenter, who used to build guitars. His uncle, Gilbert Cole, played guitar with Ernest Ranglin in the 1950s and 1960s. Another uncle, Roy Roach, was a singer in the clubs. His brother, Leroy Cole, was a popular disc jockey for Duke Reid’s sound systems. “Music was all around me,” says Stranger. As a young boy, Stranger listened to the sound systems that were set up on the streets near his home. They played American music. Stranger’s favourites were by Shirley & Lee, a rock-and-roll duo from the 1950s. “One day, it occurred to me that I could write songs. So I bought an exercise book and began to write.“  One of Stranger’s first compositions, “In and Out the Window,” recorded by Eric ‘Monty’ Morris for Duke Reid, became a hit single when Stranger was only 16 years old. The following year, Stranger recorded his first single, “When I Call Your Name”, with Patsy Todd. That song and "Rough & Tough", both from 1962, became #1 records in Jamaica and big sellers in the U.K.. Stranger began his recording career with legendary producer Duke Reid and his Treasure Isle label, including his revival of Louis Jordan's song, "Run Joe" in 1965. The singer frequently used duet partners, most notably Patsy Todd and Ken Boothe, and later in his career, Gladstone “Gladdy” Anderson (their version of "Just like a River" is one of Coles’ finest songs). Cole is a soulful vocalist, and his songs radiate a joyful personality that is rare in most Reggae. After leaving Duke Reid, Stranger made records with several Jamaican producers, including Sonia Pottinger, Lee Perry and Bunny Lee, before relocating to England in 1971. In 1973 Cole emigrated to Canada where his Uncle Roy Roach had settled. He lived in Toronto and worked as a machine operator. He continued to produce records and released three albums on his own label, “The First Ten Years of Stranger Cole,” (1978) “Captive Land,” (1980) and “The Patriot” (1982). He eventually opened a record store in Kensington Market in downtown Toronto. He lived in Canada for 15 years. Cole returned to Jamaica where he lives today. He still tours Japan, Europe and the US. In 2003, Trojan Records released “Bangarang: The Best of Stranger Cole”, a long overdue retrospective of this fine Jamaican singer's career. MUSIC Stranger Cole, "Rough & Tough" Stranger Cole “When I Get My Freedom” Stranger Cole and Lester Stirling "Bangarang" VIDEO Stranger Cole (with Byron Lee) 1963 Strange Cole (with The Moonhops) 2010 Stranger Cole (with the Melbourne Ska Orchestra) 2010 For more information: Basil Cook Head of Marketing & Operations TICKETING INFO Please have a digital or printed copy of your ticket ready on arrival along with a valid photo ID. Acceptable ID includes a current and valid Australian Photo Drivers Licence, State Approved ‘Proof of Age’ card or Passport. The Brunswick Ballroom strives to improve our practices when it comes to sustainability and to reduce our carbon footprint. We don’t sell or provide plastic water bottles. VENUE INFO THE BALLROOM MENU The kitchen will be serving The Ballroom Menu for this show. You can view the delicious offerings available by clicking here. ACCESSIBILITY The Brunswick Ballroom is Accessible. The Brunswick Ballroom has made significant improvements to accessibility by installing an Acorn Chairlift. (Model: New Acorn Indoor 180 Curved Stairlift.) Companion Tickets Accepted Accessible Seating can be purchased by entering this code before selecting your tickets: BBACCESS25 Accessible Seating ensures a reserved seat for both you and your companion. Premium Accessible Seating ensures a reserved table and includes one complimentary meal for both you and your companion from the Selfish section of our menu. Companion tickets must be valid and will be checked upon entry into the venue. VENUE FAQS To find out more about the venue, FAQs can be viewed by clicking here.