BEAR’S CHOICE Bear’s Choice is Vancouver Island’s own jam band, paying special tribute to Jerry Garcia, his band and the legendary Grateful Dead.  Conga Mike~Drums Travelling on Dead Tour for several years and attending many shows, Conga Mike has been a part of the Canadian jam band scene since the 90’s.  Having performed with well-loved  Canadian jam bands including Current Swell, Phat Cats and most recently the premiere Pink Floyd tribute band ‘Pigs’, Conga Mike brings experience, inspiration and sweet rhythm to Bear’s Choice. Brent Burley~lead guitar, lead vocals A self-proclaimed Dead Head who attended as many shows as he could as a youth, Brent learned how to play guitar by listening to tape after tape of live Dead.  With heavy influences from both reggae & blues, Jerry Garcia remains and always will remain Brent’s guitar God.  Brent has played in a variety of jam bands since the 90’s, most recently in the regionally loved Kikeyambay.  If you want to feel some Jerry, Brent will not disappoint.  Amanda Swinimer~rhythm guitar,  vocals Amanda grew up in a family surrounded by music and it continues to be one of her driving forces.  Her love of reggae, groove and blues is apparent in her playing.  Amanda has added her personal touch of rhythm guitar to several island bands including her own reggae band, Head High, which features her as the songwriter and lead vocalist.   Jerry is both a present force & an inspiration in her family’s life.  Sam Beckers~bass Groove is what Sam is all about.   A California native, Sam was exposed early on to the Grateful Dead and the trail-blazing inspiration they had on the world.  His true love lies in the groove…funk, Afro-beat and reggae. Kevin O’Brian~keys Kevin is a long time Dead Head and heplayed in a local Victoria band,Zolabud, for a number of years. Zolabud recorded a full length CD and played numerous shows in and around Victoria.  Jake Grant~congas&percussion Jake got his career ignited on Dead Tour.  He made and sold jewellery, and now has a successful jewellery business on Vancouver Island.  If you stop by his store in Sooke, you will hear live Dead and see him with his head light on creating prestigious award-winning, coastal inspired art-work to the groove of The Grateful Dead.  When Jake is not working with gems, he is playing his congas in far too many bands to list.  A veteran of percussion in reggae, blues and groove, when you see Jake’s signature grin, it means the band is locked in.