Sounds of Summer Grows into a Community Celebration in Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter
What began as a small summer concert series is steadily evolving into one of Nanaimo's most anticipated seasonal events. Bringing together local musicians, businesses, tourists and residents, Sounds of Summer in the Old City Quarter is a celebration of music and community.
Hosted by the Old City Quarter Business Association and produced in partnership with STAUC Event Center, the concert series is expanding with weekend performances, professional sound production, and two special ticketed events designed to showcase the incredible musical talent found right here on Vancouver Island.
For organizer and STAUC Event Center producer Angie Jones, the partnership feels like a natural fit.
"With the access to artists that we have, the community partnerships we’ve built, and all the concerts we've been bringing in, it’s become such a beautiful partnership between STAUC Event Center and the Old City Quarter,” says Angie.
The result is a refreshed vision for a concert series that continues to grow every year.
"We are really trying to amplify and create epic evenings and weekends full of amazing local Vancouver Island-wide talent," she says. "I'm really excited to see Sounds of Summer go even bigger this year."
STAUC Event Center is home to the historic St. Andrew’s Church on Wesley Street in the OCQ. St. Andrew’s is continually growing as a cultural and community gathering space.
"We truly want to bring events and live music to Nanaimo and utilize this beautiful heritage building in the Old City Quarter," says Angie.
While live music is at the heart of the venue, the broader mission is community connection.
"I always say that this is an outreach community building," she says. In addition to concerts, the venue hosts community initiatives including Repair Café Nanaimo, local art events, coffee programs, and outreach services.
"What STAUC Events is trying to do is utilize our wonderful venue to bring in live music to create more income and connections here, so that we can continue to survive and thrive in the Old City Quarter."
One of the biggest changes to Sounds of Summer this year is the schedule.
The free concerts that have traditionally been held on Friday afternoons are moving to weekends in hopes of attracting a broader audience. July shows will be held on Saturday afternoons from 1pm until 2pm, and August shows will be held on Sundays.
"We wanted to bring more people down to the Old City Quarter," says Angie. "Go to Misty Pines and get a coffee, go to Real Food Café and get a sandwich, and then come check out these amazing local artists."
This year's lineup also reflects a deliberate effort to showcase a diverse range of performers and musical styles.
"We didn't really stick to one general genre," she says. "We've got everything from local artist John Gogo, who's going to be more of that folk style, to The Offcuts, which are going to rock the stage with a full band. We've got Graham Villette bringing an award-winning New York City jazz musician, and we've got Brennan Roddy, who is more of an acoustic-style performer."
"Our hope is that people come, and you get so excited about what's happening that you want to come back next week to see the next show."
For the first time, Sounds of Summer will feature ticketed kickoff and tailgate events designed to create a larger festival atmosphere.
The kickoff concert will take place inside STAUC Event Center's sanctuary concert hall and feature award-winning performers in an intimate setting.
"The kickoff party is just going to be exactly that—an epic party," says Angie. "A wonderful evening full of Juno Award-nominated and award-winning performers."
The kickoff party is on Saturday, June 27th, with doors opening at 5pm and the show starting at 6pm. The multi-band show includes performances from Cari Burdett & Band, Ryan McMahon, The Bills and special guests Funkanometry. Food trucks, refreshments, and festival-style programming will help create a memorable opening celebration.
Another exciting addition is the new Sounds of Summer Tailgate Party, which transforms the church grounds into an outdoor music festival.
"This is the first time we've done this," she says. "We are going to be fencing off the St. Andrew's parking lot, and we are going to have food trucks, the Travel Bar, a big stage, sound engineers, and it's essentially an outdoor festival featuring all local Nanaimo artists. It's going to be a total creative, fun musical experience."
A major focus of this year's series is shining a spotlight on homegrown musicians.
"There was a real focus on Vancouver Island artists this year," says Angie. "That was a really large focus for me—showcasing local Nanaimo talent as well as Vancouver Island talent."
Since moving to Nanaimo four years ago, Angie says she has been continually impressed by the depth of musical talent across the region.
"We are truly blessed to be such a musical island,” she says.
For Angie, providing a platform for local artists is one of the most important goals of the series.
"I want everyone in Nanaimo to hear these amazing musicians that are local and support those people. It's really important that we give them a stage and a place to be celebrated."
At its heart, Sounds of Summer is about creating shared experiences.
With a bigger lineup, new festival experiences, and a commitment to local talent, Sounds of Summer in the Old City Quarter is bringing the community together, one song at a time.