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The Junos are in town this week with a sold-out free show by Snotty Nose Rez Kids at The Queen’s on Thursday hosted by Tourism Nanaimo. 

It is one show in the Let’s Hear It B.C. concert series touching down in six cities in the province before the Juno Awards show on Sunday in Vancouver.

Cedar’s Eric Bearclaw is nominated for the instrumental album of the year, and Nanaimo’s David Gogo is nominated for the blues album of the year. Christine Jensen, who lives in Montreal but grew up in the harbour city, is up for jazz album of the year. 

There are also a ton of other great concerts, art exhibitions, theatre shows and community events this week — including a number aimed at kids in the final week of March break. 

Best of luck to all of our local Juno Award nominees.

Thank you for reading,

Mick Sweetman

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🔎 Watch for 🔍

Saturday, March 29, 7:30 p.m.: Crimson Coast Dance Society’s Body Talk Hip Hop Pow Wow performance will take place in the Snuneymuxw Recreation and Wellness Centre. Tickets are offered on a sliding scale from $10 to $65. Photo courtesy of Crimson Coast Dance Society.

Got the inside scoop of an event you think should be shared? 

Let us know by sending Mick an email.

🎵 Listen 🎤

Tuesday, March 25, 7:30 p.m.: Internationally renowned virtuoso fiddlers Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy take their music to new heights with an all-new show Four on the Floor at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $55. 

Tuesday, March 25, 7:30 p.m.: The Comedy Misfits will showcase Vancouver Island comedians at the Sip Pub. Tickets cost $25. 

Thursday, March 27, 7 p.m.: Ascent, Nanaimo’s monthly goth industrial dance night, will be held at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $10. 

Thursday, March 27, 7 p.m.: Snotty Nose Rez Kids, DJ All Good and Sirreal will play a free show at The Queen’s as part of the Vancouver JUNO Committee’s Let’s Hear It BC series.

Thursday, March 27, 9 p.m.: Fake Jass, a night of experimental sound and improvised music with Deviant featuring Unlocking My Magical Powers and GUM at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $10. 

Friday, March 28, 6:30 p.m.: Slim Sandy and the Hillbilly Boppers will play at the Gabriola Agi Hall. Tickets cost $10. 

Friday, March 28, 7 p.m.: Joel Lee will bring his "Rock in our Country" tour to The Queen's. Tickets cost $30 in advance.

Friday, March 28, 9 p.m.: An evening of jazz, improv and psychedelic music with the Longhand Trio at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15-$20. 

Friday, March 28, 10 p.m.: Funk rock bass Island tour featuring The Shindigs, Dog Party!, Scotty Stylus and MC Sweat at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door

Saturday, March 29, 7 p.m.: Bort and Burnt Lung, Hexenbane and Olde Souls will play at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $20. 

Saturday, March 29, 8 p.m.: Vouge Villains, Dead Rights, Out Alive and Carl Longstaff will play The Terminal. Tickets cost $15. 

Saturday, March 29, 9 p.m.: City Snickers comedy night at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $20.

🎭 View 🖼️

Sunday, March 30, 2 p.m.: TheatreOne’s final show in its Just for Kids series presents Frog Belly Rat Bone at Vancouver Island University’s Malaspina Theatre. Tickets cost $12. 

Tuesday, April 1, 7:30 p.m.: Nanaimo’s TheatreOne presents April Fools Us at The Port Theatre with some of the British Columbia magicians that have performed on the hit TV series Penn and Teller Fools Us. Tickets cost $45. 

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Thursday, March 27, 5 p.m.: Sexual health educator Kerri Isham, Downtown Nanaimo Business Association executive director Roberta Bowman, Nanaimo city councillor Sheryl Armstrong and dentist and Vancouver Island Bhangra founder Sukhi Sangha will speak on a women’s leadership panel at Vancouver Island University in Building 210, room 245. 

Friday, March 28, 7 p.m.: Alan Cross will do a live recording of The Ongoing History of New Music at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $34. 

Saturday, March 29, 7 p.m.: The Nanaimo Clippers will play the Surrey Eagles at Frank Crane Arena. Tickets cost $20. 

Sunday, March 30, noon: Lions free skate at Frank Crane Arena.

Sunday, March 30, 1 p.m.: Try out a fun paper transfer technique to create colorful line drawings using oil pastels at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $5 for non-members.

Sunday, March 30, 1 p.m.: A presentation on the end-of-life doula’s perspective on Medical Assistance in Dying, sponsored by the Butterfly House Society of Vancouver Island, will take place at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library’s second floor. 

Monday, March 31, 10:30 a.m: Transgender Day of Visibility flag raising at Nanaimo City Hall.

Monday, March 31, noon : Author and filmmaker Ivan Coyote will virtually join the Positive Space Alliance for an afternoon of creative expression and the sharing of trans experiences for the Transgender Day of Visibility at Vancouver Island University. The event will take place in the Royal Arbutus Room above the main cafeteria. 

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