Submitted photo

Jumping up on stage at Ska Fest to start skanking with the performers.

Avid UW-Eau Claire Ska Fest go-er junior Lindsey Russell has been doing this since she was 15 years old.

For the last four years she attended the campus event and said this show will be no exception.

“I think it’s just a really good time to forget about things and just dance for awhile,” she said. “Ska music is just so much fun.”

Friday, Something To Do will headline the 13th annual Ska Fest concert in Davies Center’s Council Fire Room at 7 p.m, sponsored by University Activities Commission.

In addition, Manic Sewing Circle, Catch of the Day, and Offend Your Friends will perform after Car Full of Midgets opens the show.

Something To Do trumpet player Mike Bares said the band has played at Eau Claire’s event for about four years now, and he is looking forward to returning.

“It’s been a lot of fun, and we enjoy the venue,” he said.

But for those who don’t know what ska music is, Bares said it can be defined as “horn-driven rock.”

“We mix a little bit of punk rock with rock,” he said. “It appeals to a lot of people. I would say it’s a high energy show. The kids always have a lot of fun dancing and jumping around.”

Something To Do, a Waukesha-based band, consists of five members, and, since 2001, performs mostly their own music with a few covers, Bares said.

“The story goes, all the members of the band were in two other bands that both fell apart around the same time, so we wanted to get back together,” he said. “It was just ‘something to do.'”

Russell said she’s been attending their concerts for about seven years and considers herself a big fan.

“Something To Do is a really great band. They really know how to talk to the crowd and get them excited about things. I just love ska and their sound is just a lot of fun to dance to,” Russell said. “I usually go up on stage and skank with Something To Do for their last song,” she said. “One year, I was dancing around and Mike (Bares), the trumpet player, started dancing with me. It was fun.”

Trombone and keyboardist for Manic Sewing Circle Giancarlo Iannotta said this year’s Ska Fest is a first for the group, and they’re looking forward to it.

“We’ve heard some good things about it, so we’re pretty excited to be coming up,” he said.

This Chicago-based ska and punk band has been playing since 2004 and has since done a full east coast tour and performed in the 2006 and 2007 Vans Warped Tour.

“Our influences are so diverse. Everything from The Beatles to Buddy Holly. A lot of soul reggae,” he said.

Iannotta said four of the members are college-aged and the other is a senior in high school.

Catch of the Day is a seven-piece ska band from Slinger and played in two other Eau Claire Ska Fests as well as Summerfest.

Fond du Lac-based ska-influenced punk band Offend Your Friends has been together for about four years and their songs feature social and political lyrics, according to the University Activities Commission Web site.

All ages can attend, and tickets are $5 or $3 with a Blugold student I.D. Tickets can be purchased at the Service Center in Davies Center’s east lobby or at the door. People can also order by phone at 836-3727, with a $3 handling fee.