The Humanitarians

The Humanitarians

The Humanitarians are a band from Devon playing ska punk with influences drawn from rock, new wave, ska, reggae and indie. The group is a four-piece made up of John Mathew on vocals and guitar, Rich Mills on trombone and guitar, Aaron Hopkinson on bass, and Hayden Jones on drums. Their approach is described in terms of playing with conviction and keeping the songs direct and forceful.

Background and style

The band draws on a wide range of artists and styles, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Howlin' Wolf, Bob Marley, The Who, David Bowie, The Jam, The Black Keys, The Specials, Nirvana, Neil Young, Leadbelly, The Clash, The White Stripes, Oasis, The Sex Pistols and Pink Floyd. That mix of influences feeds into a sound that combines punk energy with ska rhythms and broader rock and reggae elements.

Recordings and releases

The Humanitarians release two albums. Their debut, Born, appears in 2009 and includes the single “The End of the World on TV”. Their second album, No Law, follows in 2012 and includes “Call The Police”. In 2013 they also issue a CD EP containing four tracks from No Law.

Collaborations and related projects

The band contributes a cover of The Beat’s “Sugar & Stress” to the Specialized 2: Beat Teenage Cancer project. In 2014 they appear on Specialized 3: Mad not cancer with their version of “Grey Day”.

Live activity

The Humanitarians reform and return to gigging, with Molloys named as their regular hometown venue.