If Ennio Morricone wandered into a Tijuana backstreet while a Melbourne brass band tore through the night, you would be somewhere in the orbit of Melbourne Ska Orchestra and their sprawling 2025 album The Ballad Of Monte Loco.
Now the ARIA Award winning collective is taking that cinematic, desert soaked sound on the road, announcing a massive national tour from August to October 2026, alongside the forthcoming deluxe release Monte Loco Rides Again.
Led by Nicky Bomba, the group will kick off on Friday 7 August in Adelaide before rolling through Fremantle, Geelong, Mt Evelyn, Hobart, Forth, Sunshine Coast, Brunswick Heads, Brisbane, Melbourne, Castlemaine, San Remo, Sydney and Cairns.
The Melbourne show on Friday 2 October will feature special guests Out Of Control Army, marking a high energy cross cultural ska celebration that continues a growing connection between Australian and Mexican scenes.
Known for its rotating cast of up to 26 musicians, MSO blends ska, reggae, Latin rhythms and big band energy into something that feels closer to a travelling festival than a traditional tour.
The band’s latest era builds on decades of work that has seen them evolve from local cult favourites into international festival regulars, with multiple ARIA wins, global touring success and millions of streams backing their reputation as one of Australia’s most dynamic live acts.
The Monte Loco Rides Again project expands on the 2025 album with live recordings, unreleased material and new arrangements that deepen its cinematic Western inspired world.
Nicky Bomba describes the tour as a full scale travelling village of musicians, crew and chaos, where the logistics are as intense as the music is joyful. On stage, though, it all locks into place.
Fans can expect horn heavy grooves, sweat drenched dancefloors and a full scale celebration of rhythm and storytelling brought to life in technicolour.
Tickets available at melbourneskaorchestra.com
