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I spoke with Nanaimo Blues Festival president Jacquie Moisan earlier this week to learn about the upcoming festival, taking place from Aug. 7-9 at Maffeo Sutton Park with a launch party on Aug. 6 at The Queen’s.

You can read my story about the festival next week, but I wanted to share a couple of cool things I learned. Did you know the festival works to showcase youth performers, giving them a chance to share the stage with international headliners? There is also an emphasis on diversity, with people of different genders and backgrounds selected to perform.

The Discourse is excited to announce that we have two tickets to the Nanaimo Blues Festival to give away to one of our supporters. (If you don’t support us monetarily already, you can do so here.)

If you are a supporter of The Discourse, reply to this email before 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2 with the name of the act you’re most excited to see at the Nanaimo Blues Festival for a chance to win the pair of tickets. I look forward to reading your responses.

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🔎 Watch for 🔍

Thursday, Aug. 6 to Sunday, Aug. 9: Nanaimo Blues Festival at Maffeo Sutton Park, with a launch party on Aug. 6 at The Queen’s. More information and tickets at https://nanaimoblues.com/

🎵 Listen 🎤

Friday, July 31

• 6 p.m.: Concerts in the Park featuring Mansfield at Daynes Park Nanaimo. Free.

• 6 p.m.: Local band fundraiser and barbecue featuring Behaviors, Plaid Snakes, Slumbering Patina, My Drum Machine Your Skull and Maskara at The Terminal Bar. Cover $20 or pay what you can. Music starts at 8 p.m.

• 7 p.m.: Danika Portz and Steve Mitchell play an intimate, high energy duo show at The Vault Cafe. Tickets $15 at the door.

• 8 p.m.: Innerouter, Fishe Townsen and Painted Silver play Calgary dream grunge, experimental rock and punk at The Vault Cafe.

• 9:30 p.m.: Hip Hop Culture Fest Live at The Queen's. Tickets $20.

Saturday, Aug. 1

• 6:30 p.m.: WINTERFIELD at The Queen's. Tickets $10.

• 7 p.m.: Ripcordz with Danger Box, Mean Bikini and Lords of Apathy at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets $20.

• 8 p.m.: Jazz Night at The Vault Cafe. Music starts at 9 p.m.

• 9:30 p.m.: Industrial Shipwreck with performances by Too Much Light, Skull Cultist and The LSD at The Queen's. Tickets $25 at the door.

Sunday, Aug. 2

• 8 p.m.: Paige Drobot with Rare Earth Magnet and Bad State at The Queen's. Tickets $20 at the door.

Wednesday, Aug. 5

• 6 p.m.: Gnarwhal Lucid Machines Tour with Hexenbane and Scraped Blind all ages show at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets $15.

Thursday, Aug. 6

• 6:30 p.m.: Nanaimo Blues Festival Launch Party at The Queen's. Tickets $35.

• 7 p.m.: Gravemass Western Canada tour with YEGG and Stinkhorn at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets $20 in advance, $26 at the door.

🎭 View 🖼️

Saturday, Aug. 1

• 1 p.m.: Biophilia: Curator's Tour at Nanaimo Art Gallery. Free.

• 1 p.m.: Thinking with Ferns workshop at Nanaimo Art Gallery. $20.

Sunday, Aug. 2

• 1 p.m.: Art Lab Sunday: Leaf Impressions at Nanaimo Art Gallery. Free for members, $5 for non-members.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Friday, July 31

• 8:45 a.m.: Summer Camp: Dreamland at Nanaimo Art Gallery.

Saturday, Aug. 1

• 2:30 p.m.: Book Launch: Plant Teachings from My Auntie at Gabriola Historical and Museum Society.

Tuesday, Aug. 4

• 8:45 a.m.: Summer Camp: Mixed Media Mayhem at Nanaimo Art Gallery.

Wednesday, Aug. 5

• 3 p.m.: Nanaimo Farmers' Market - Island Roots at Beban Park.

• 5 p.m.: Kill Team Drop In at Drop Zone Games.

Thursday, Aug. 6

• 1 p.m.: Wild Child Tie Dye at Gabriola Historical and Museum Society. Tickets $8.

• 3:30 p.m.: Old World Campaign at Drop Zone Games.

• 9 p.m.: Lanterns for Peace ceremony at Sway-a-Lana Lagoon, Maffeo Sutton Park, in remembrance of the first atom bomb ever used on the city of Hiroshima.

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