The Bloodwarmers

The Ska's the Limit
Bloodwarmers on the rise

It's all about the show. These high-energy musicians are known for their explosive ska performances focused on the audience need to move. If you don't jump up and join in, check your pulse "cause you must be dead!" says manager and trombone contortionist Allen Pleasants.

The Bloodwarmers are a six-piece band of ska-crazy islanders led by vocalist John Dewis. Pleasants is half of the brass section along with trumpeter Kevin Eames. Aaron Weatmen provides the driving bass lines. Jamieson Patton checks up on the skins and newest member Tyson Reilly, with a background in jazz and a love of Reggae, helped switch the original punky guitar to better emulate the sounds of old.
The Bloodwarmers, founded in February '99, grew from Dewis, Eames and Patton and their late band Cause for Reason. The band is a local favorite with a diverse following. From the pubs of Victoria to the halls of Courtenay and Cortes Island, the guys tour Vancouver Island with the same energy and enthusiasm they show on stage. Their objective is to make their followers dance into exhaustion.

The past four years provide good memories for the six ska fanatics who are strongly -influenced by bands like the Mad Bombers, Might Mighty Bosstones, Skatalites, Sublime and Los Furious. Their future plan is to keep writing explosive, original tunes, over 28 now and counting.

What else keeps the Bloodwarmers going? The crowd of sweaty bodies and the chance to continue their friendship through their tight, zany and energetic stage antics along with their original "ska-rific" sound that can only be truly experienced live.

Audio

Anything Goes
Dancehall
Moving Slow
Soundcheck Theme Song
Take Me For a Ride
Someday
Ordinary Day

Albums

The Bloodwarmers
( 2002 )

Shows

Antidoping , 1876, Crazy & The Brains, The Bloodwarmers, Stax, db chessa
at Ship Point (Inner Harbour)
Sun. June 28th 2:00 PM
Free
We're closing Victoria's 27th Annual Ska & Reggae Festival with a high-energy lineup geared directly towards all our true Ska & Reggae Massive. One of Mexico’s greatest reggae bands, ANTIDOPING, returns to Victoria to headline this free festival-closing show. A linchpin of the Razteca Movement – a fusion of Mexican culture and Rastafarian philosophy, that includes our old friends Los Rastillos – Antidoping has been one of Mexico’s most vital, exciting reggae bands for over 30 years. They left a big impression the last time they took to the Ship Point stage and you can certainly expect another unforgettable reggae experience. Joining Antidoping for this one, representing both the Northern Cheyenne and the Blackfeet nations (of which both languages they sing in), is the powerful 1876. Combining the traditional sounds of the pow wow with the aggressive guitar, crunching rhythms and furious lyricism of punk rock, there is no one out there doing it like 1876. Don't miss their ferocious Ska & Reggae Fest debut!

We've heard the cries of the our true punk Massive and we're stoked to have New York “xylo-punks” CRAZY & THE BRAINS make their Victoria debut at Ship Point! Drawing comparisons to punk luminaries like The Ramones and Rancid, Crazy & The Brains has been one of the most unique, exciting bands on the scene since they formed over a decade ago. And for those longtime members of the ska Massive, we're proud to welcome back THE BLOODWARMERS. The Bloodwarmers are longtime veterans of the early Ska & Reggae Fests (Back when we were still called Victoria Ska Fest), appearing at 3 of the 4 instalments of the festival, and they return with the 'ska-rific' live show for the first time in over 20 years! Kicking the day's live acts off is Victoria rapper STAX, who will be bringing his introspective, personal and powerful rhymes to our stage for the first time. Four years after his journey into music was sidelined by addiction, Stax returned the scene, more powerful than ever and we're stoked to give him the space to spread his repaired wings. We've even heard through the grapevine that his brother, Lord Condor, may be taking the stage with him. As if that wasn't a packed enough day, we have big DB Chessa behind the decks keeping things fresh with the finest reggae, dub, roots, rocksteady and dancehall. Join us, one and all, as we close out Victoria's 27th Annual Ska & Reggae Fest with a bang!