Jazzing Things Up in Nanaimo

How's this for a surprise: the volunteer-backed festival was named "Festival of the Year" in 2023 by the B.C. Touring Council. So you know you're guaranteed a good show.

"Jazz is more than just the cliché known from the 1950s and 60s. Our goal is to show diversity in this music genre," explains Dirk Heydemann, vice president of the Nanaimo International Jazz Festival Society (festival producers). 

"This city is home to its own symphony orchestra and tons of cultural programs, we are a city growing to see more niche experiences than you'd see in other larger-scale communities."

Of the 17 performances that make up this September's Jazz Fest, Heydemann recommends checking out "the New Groovement"—a hybrid 10-piece musical act that crosses over between hip-hop and jazz.

Or if jazz-infused rock is your thing, he adds, head over to see Steely Dan tribute band, Stealing Dan at The Queens on September 12. 

You might even want to consider a double-header, with the Joshua Holloway "Celeste" drag/jazz show at The Nanaimo Bar. 

The shows run back to back on September 12, with Stealing Dan from 7-9pm, and Joshua Holloway Celeste from 9-11pm. Of course, being Nanaimo, the venues are a nice 10-minute stroll apart. 

Jazz up your fall

Head to Nanaimo for a harbour scene full of surprises

"The Jazz Fest likes to keep things as local as they can and it's cool to see how many hidden gems come forward every year—not only the view potentials given how beautiful this place is, but also the artists who show up off say one of the Gulf Islands to play and blows the roof off the place," says jazz drummer Graham Villete whose quintet opens the festival on September 6 at the Lighthouse Bistro.

Festivals build community, and what they are doing here in Nanaimo validates this statement. The September Jazz Fest offers 17 performances over the four-week run across nine venues. 

"And next to musicians showing up to play, we have a variety of venues that are saying, 'yes we want you to play here' and are building space within their venues for year-round live music opportunities," says Heydemann.

Heydemann suggests a series of Nanaimo venues that will provide some special surprises to the first-time visitor or those new to the local music scene. With a name inspired by the iconic national dessert named for the region, live music venue The Nanaimo Bar serves up some live music with your dessert. 

(Of course, Nanaimo is home to the Nanaimo Bar, with Tourism Nanaimo offering up the Nanaimo Bar Trail, which will take you around the city sampling a variety of spins on one of Canada's top sweet treats.) 

Or there's the eclectic Vault Café, suggests Heydemann. And the Lighthouse Bistro (pictured above) also serves as a Jazz Fest venue, offering great views of Nanaimo's harbour while the jazz soothes any soul.

The heart of the Nanaimo Jazz Fest happens September 12-14, including a partial takeover of the Maffeo Sutton Park with a series of FREE jazz shows. 

Score your tickets now for headliner Holly Cole, whose show is happening September 13 at Nanaimo's Port Theatre (as of August 15, the show is already half sold out). 

Want to pay it forward with a little community investment of your own? Why not throw your jazz hands into volunteering for the festival? "Volunteering for another Jazz fest led me into this year-round volunteer board position with our Jazz festival," says Heydemann.

Pair your jazz with an Island Getaway 

For a breather between sets at Maffeo Sutton Park, take the 10-minute Saysutshun Ferry sailing right from the park in downtown Nanaimo to Saysutshun Island (formerly known as Newcastle Island). The ferry runs seasonally, from May 1-October 16 and it's a highlight of any Nanaimo visit.

After a two-hour visit to Saysutshun—including a stellar 11 km trail run around the island—I came back to Nanaimo on the 10-minute passenger-only, dog-friendly ferry feeling like I'd really experienced somewhere unique.

Queue up some time during the Nanaimo Jazz Fest for a Saysutshun visit, "one of the best walking destinations in Canada," says Tom Peterson, a Nanaimo resident.

Or extend your Nanaimo getaway and hop BC Ferries, again from downtown to Gabriola Island for their Gabriola Island Studio tour happening Thanksgiving long weekend, October 11-13. 

Tour the island and its huge array of artists who open their studios for visitors to connect up close and personal with a ton of great artistic producers.

When you go

Tickets for the Nanaimo Jazz Fest, outside of the free shows happening at Maffeo Sutton Park, can be purchased here.

The October Gabriola Studio tour is FREE, but you can score more detail here.  

Getting to Nanaimo is super easy: walk on the Hullo passenger ferry from downtown Vancouver to downtown Nanaimo. You don't need a car here; everything is within walking distance including a bustling downtown core full of funky, eclectic shops.

BC Ferries offers regular service from Horseshoe Bay. 

Or for a unique trip, hop on Harbour Air for a 20-min flight, again connecting downtown Vancouver to downtown Nanaimo.

Here's a handy guide to getting around Nanaimo, via Tourism Nanaimo. Tourism Nanaimo also offers a roundup of accommodation options here, making your festival planning easy.

Let us know what you discover, include the hashtags #explorenanaimo and #festivalseekers in your posts so we can engage and possibly share your wins on our social channels.