When I started to write this article, it was going to be a typical summation of a really wonderful weekend of incredible ska music. I was planning to recap all of my favorite acts, talk about how the stupid rain kept me from seeing Lynval Golding (who was the main reason I had come), and regale in the beauty of a kind, supportive community that comes together each year with the sole purpose of loving ska music. But then, literally minutes after I started typing, I went to my Instagram to look something up, and the first post was from The Slackers (another band who got rained out this weekend) letting us know that Tim Receveur, the creator and leader of Supernova International Ska Festival, had passed away at the age of 53.

Tim was not just a guy who liked ska and decided to start a ska festival. I’ve read dozens and dozens of posts from bands and individual musicians over the last two days, and each and every one of them said the same things. Tim believed it was his mission in life to lift up those around him, to always let musicians and friends know how important they were to him and how talented he thought they were. He helped so many people both financially and with their musical journeys. He took chances on smaller, unknown bands, helping jumpstart their careers, and he kept a place open for older, established acts toward whom he felt loyalty. Tim created a community—a place where people met, became friends, fell in love, and got engaged, and where they returned, year after year, to rekindle those relationships. The Supernova staff, security included, were always the sweetest and most helpful, because that is how he wanted it. Tim didn’t just create a well-received music festival; he fostered a safe space for us to dress in two-tone clothes, skank like no one’s watching, and profess our love for bands most of our friends have never heard of. Supernova was a very, very special place because of the love Tim poured into it. His absence is far-reaching, and the hole his loss leaves behind is only eclipsed by the legacy he left us.

Our amazing emcees, Junior Francis and Dunia Best.

For me, this year’s Supernova lineup was epic. Seeing ska legends like Derrick Morgan, King Yellowman, Marcia Aitken, and Lynval Golding in real life, something I didn’t think would ever happen for most of those acts, was a dream come true. Derrick Morgan, OD, was so full of swagger it was ridiculous! He sat on a tall, white throne and sang to us with the bravado of a 25-year-old, despite his 86 years. I stood there in the pouring rain, constantly wiping my camera lenses, trying to soak up both the rain and every second of his gorgeous voice. Lynval came out onstage to join him, and so did Jackie Mendez. It was truly a sight to behold. Hearing the songs I grew up with sung in real life by the man who made them famous, was such a special moment that I won’t soon forget.

There were so many truly great acts that first day that it is hard to put all the excitement into words. Getting to see established favorites like Catbite, The Aggrolites, and Jackie Mendez made my day!

But I also got to see some new-to-me acts like The Trojanites (man, were they great!), The Boy Detective (I’d been sleeping on them for way too long!), and, of course, The Impossibles. So many people had come to Supernova this year with the goal of seeing the reunion of The Impossibles, and it almost didn’t happen because of the thunderstorms. But thankfully the sky cleared in time, and they managed to absolutely destroy that stage with their own brand of ska/punk, and the crowd was so there for it! The Trojanites put on my favorite brand of ska, with strong rhythms, great lyrics, and steady beats. And if you want a guaranteed jump-out-of-your-seat good time, check out my new friend, The Boy Detective. Man, do those guys know how to put on a show!

I’d also strongly suggest you find a way to go see Out of Control Army in concert. They are so much more than a ska band- full of energy, loud and raucous, and an all-around great time! Having just visited their hometown of Mexico City, I can guarantee that the ska scene there is alive and well, and these guys are proof of it!

While I was still silently crying about not getting to see Lynval with the Morgan and Aggrolites, my sadness had been somewhat lifted by Derrick Morgan and then completely disappeared when The English Beat took the stage. I’ve only had a chance to see them five or six times before, so I relished this opportunity to see Dave Wakefield in all his glory. They played all my favorites, “Twist and Crawl," “Ranking Full Stop," and one of my top five songs of all time, “Mirror in the Bathroom." Even though I was still fighting through the rain and got very few useable photos as a result, it was still a perfect way to end the night!

Day two was thankfully a lot drier, and it started off with a bang, with the Detroit Riddim Crew just absolutely killing it. I’ve never gotten to see them perform live, so it was a real treat to feel the ocean breeze blowing as I swayed and danced to their gorgeous sounds.

The pace picked up a bit for the next two acts, with The Skavelinas, out of Arizona, becoming one of my new favorites! If you want a band that will put a smile on your face and make you dance even when you don’t feel like it, The Skavelinas are for you! They bring together all my favorite elements of third wave, plus they are super sweet guys! Go check them out on IG and at a ska show near you!

Millington kept up the skacore pace, jumping all over the stage and making jokes that actually caused me to laugh out loud! Their onstage antics were second only to their musical skills, and they quickly had the whole crowd skanking and laughing.

If you’ve never gotten a chance to see Rude Girl Revue, then your life is sad, and I wouldn’t want to be you. Seriously, what is wrong with you? Go find them now! It’s really become a mission of mine lately to make a point of going to shows with female representation, and Supernova is always that. Rude Girl Revue brings together the best voices in ska on one stage, and it is such a freaking party! Kay from The Doomstompers sang with Brittany from Catbite, while Dunia Best was singing and playing guitar. Jackie Mendez jumped up onstage to rock out, and there were so many more incredible women playing every instrument imaginable and singing their hearts out. And the photo pit became overrun with little kids dancing along. I truly love being a part of a Rude Girl Revue performance!

Chris Murray didn’t just bring the party, he WAS the party, with a plethora of guests joining him onstage, including a whole troop of kiddos! And probably my favorite part was when the amazing Aaron Cote joined Chris for glorious renditions of the songs “Ex Darling” and "Solomon." And if you don’t know Aaron, make sure to check out CotePercussion on your socials. You’ll see him here in several photos, as he joined numerous acts throughout the weekend, lending his talents on the steel drum. If I’m being honest, Aaron was one of my absolute favorite parts of this incredibly fun weekend!

Another legend, Marcia Aitken, then came to the stage. One of several Kingston, Jamaica, reggae stars on the bill this weekend, Marcia was joined onstage by Lloyd Parks, OD, who discovered Aitken when she was still a teenager. Ms. Aitken brought her brand of sassy rocksteady and I spent her whole set smiling ear to ear.

I’ve been a massive fan of Flogging Molly since I saw them on Warped Tour, when they first came on the scene. So when I saw that my old favorite, Matt Hensley, the FM accordion player, was starting a new band, I immediately bought the album. Then when I saw they were playing Supernova, that was all I needed to know that I had to go. And let me tell you, I WAS RIGHT! The A-100’s band, with singer Sean Wheeler (Throw Rag), Matt (Flogging Molly), and other big names in ska, is an all-star lineup who know exactly what we want to hear. I was pleased to see the crowd had joined me in buying the album early, as everyone was singing along! You HAVE to catch them when the come anywhere near you!

Speaking of high school, Canadian third-wave band The Planet Smashers have been around since I was a senior. It’s been decades since the last time I last saw them, but they’ve only gotten better with age. Hopefully it won’t be so many years before I see them next!

There are not enough words to describe the next act I was privileged enough to watch. King Yellowman, OD, is considered the creator of modern dancehall and has been performing almost non-stop since the 1970s. He released 10 albums in 1982 alone, and he has been on stages all over the world since he was a teenager. Having battled a difficult childhood and skin cancer that later led to having part of his jaw removed, Winston Foster, OD, aka Yellowman, has overcome insurmountable odds to become one of the most beloved figures in the reggae/ska scene. And from the first beat, King Yellowman did not disappoint. He spent an hour running up and down the stage, commanding us to follow his every move and hang on his every lyric. He had us laughing, screaming, and singing along in a way that few performers could. Getting to see Yellowman was truly the highlight of a really fabulous weekend!

I honestly felt bad for The Pietasters having to follow such a perfect performance, but of course, they did it with ease. Steve commanded the stage, and the band had us all singing the songs we knew so well.

So much else happened this weekend. I saw old friends—two of whom we had met in line at Punk Rock Bowling two years ago and who happened to come up behind us in line on day 1! Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites was giving haircuts in the Lionsbridge trailer, and my hubby went and got a great trim! We had excellent vegan food and took a beautiful walk on the trail by the ocean where the festival was held. There were kids giving free high fives and a skanking pit for the littles. Another pit was full of blow-up costumes dancing the day away. Even when the rain came and we were evacuated, everyone walked out with smiles on, and hung out with new friends in the parking lot, waiting to be let back in. When the time came, people just got back in line, without a grumble to be heard. Because Supernova is not a big corporate fest, it’s personal, run by a man who made it his mission to bring a smile to everyone’s face. It’s not known if this will be the end of Supernova, but I know that all of our lives are better for having been a part of this beautiful community.