STAUC brings new energy to Sounds of Summer concert series in Old City Quarter
The Bills wrap up Sounds of Summer launch Sunday June 28th at St. Andrews United. The weekly concert series will run until the end of August, wrapping with a tailgate party. (Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM)
Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter was filled with music this past weekend as the annual Sounds of Summer concert series kicked off with a special event.
Inside St. Andrew’s United Church, the concert series held its first ticketed event, complete with food trucks in the parking lot outside.
The event highlighted local talent through live music and dance, setting the stage for other free concerts that will be held all summer long on Wesley Street.
Performers included classically trained songstress Cari Burtdette, singer-songwriter Ryan McMahon (McMAN), and JUNO nominated acoustic folk band The Bills.
Angie Jones is the event coordinator for St. Andrew’s United Church and a director with the Old City Quarter Business Association.
She is overseeing this year’s concert series.
“I have always been a huge fan of live music, and I felt that Nanaimo really needed a stage for local artists and local talent to shine, and so that's what we're trying to do with Sounds of Summer,” she said.
Throughout the summer, every weekend from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. musical performances take place in the Old City Quarter on Wesley St.
In July the performances will take place weekly on Saturdays at Wesley Square, with the August performances happening every Sunday next door at the Heritage Mews.
The weekly concert series will run until the end of August, wrapping with a tailgate party.
As a landmark of the Old City Quarter and a congregation struggling for members, St. Andrew’s is taking on a bigger role in the concert series this year, by offering more spaces for performances in the city.
“So as you may know, churches are struggling to survive these days. We have this amazingly beautiful heritage building, and we're so lucky to have an absolutely stunning sanctuary with amazing acoustics,” she said. “I studied music myself at Grant MacEwan College, and so when I started here and I could see what their numbers were for the church [members], I knew we needed to do something different.”
Jones said since September of last year they have been working under the name of the St.AUC Events Centre. Utilizing the church not only as a place to worship, but also as a rentable facility for musicians and performers to use as a venue to host their own shows.
Because of this, Jones and the St.AUC Events Centre sought out to take a lead with hosting, incorporating the church and centre into the Sounds of Summer Music Series with the kick-off party and the end of summer tailgate party.
After hosting a successful kick-off, Jones said she is looking forward to the tailgate at the end of summer.
“We're going to end off the Sounds of Summer series, and we are bringing local Nanaimo talent to the show to the stage,” Jones said.
The August 29th tailgate will feature talent such as The Social Standard, James Vickers Band, and Myc Sharratt & the Alibis. Tickets can be purchased on the Port Theatre website.
The weekend event remains free, and will feature musicians like John Gogo, Kele Fleming, the Offcutz, Sylvia Humble, Graham Villette, Brennan Rodney, Brad Brevedoros and the Tony Turner Trio.
“This has just been an absolute dream come true, and a complete vision of mine,” she said.
More information about the Sounds of Summer concert series and dates can be found on the Old City Quarter Business Association website at www.oldcityquarter.com.
With files from Jesse Woodward.
Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.