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If you have never seen B.A. Johnston perform, you probably don’t know what you are missing. And if you have seen him before, you still might not know what happened. 

B.A. Johnston has been touring Canada since 2002 with his irreverent and chaotic performance style that has been compared to both Stompin’ Tom Connor and GG Allen. 

Like Connor, Johnston is also famous for playing remote small towns and venues and gaining a loyal following by singing about common working-class experiences such as working in a grocery store as a teenager and enduring abuse from a customer at Tim Hortons, or  just lamenting about missing wing night at the local pub.

I once saw him play at the Port Hardy Legion to a small crowd of enthusiastic fans where he accidentally broke a glass on the floor and cleaned it up without missing a beat while singing about his beef with fast-food franchises that mess up his drive-through orders. 

His closest brush with mainstream acceptance was a Polaris nomination in 2015 for his album, Shit Sucks.

You can catch B.A. Johnston at The Nanaimo Bar on Wednesday, June 10. You will either love him, hate him, or just be confused by him, but you are sure to experience something that is unique and entertaining.

Stay weird Nanaimo,

Mick Sweetman

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🔎 Watch for 🔍

Wednesday, June 10, 9:30 p.m.: Comic musician and performance artist B.A. Johnston will play his unique brand of Hamilton cult classics at The Nanaimo Bar. Tickets cost $15.

🎵 Listen 🎤

Friday, June 5 

• 6 p.m.: Devours, Wants, Zoe The Strange at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door. All ages. 🏳️‍🌈

• 7 p.m.: The Lee Taylor Band at The Queen's. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

• 7 p.m.: Jazz Affair 2025 at Royal Canadian Legion Mt Benson Branch 256. Tickets cost $65.

• 7:30 p.m.: Rainbow Salsa Social and lessons at Pleasant Valley Social Centre. Tickets cost $30.🏳️‍🌈

• 9 p.m.: Red Giant at The Old City Station Pub. Tickets cost $15.

• 10 p.m.: Happy Endings at The Queen's. Tickets cost $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Saturday, June 6 

• 6:30 p.m.: Wunderbread, the West Coast’s finest live disco-funk extravaganza, at The Queen's. Tickets cost $20.

• 7 p.m.: RoadPoets two-album release at Gabriola Golf & Country Club. Tickets cost $22.73.

Sunday, June 7 

• 3 p.m.: A Tribute to the Eras of Taylor Swift at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $55.50.

• 3:30 p.m.: All ages Punk/Psych show with Physicalist, Pharm, Rad Dog, Frantic Mistake and El Hombre Al Agua at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15 to $20.

• 8 p.m.: Forbidden Nights: the UK’s hottest male revue at The Queen's. Tickets cost $58.19. 

Monday, June 8 

• 7 p.m.: 1999 The Ultimate Prince Experience at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $75.50.

Wednesday, June 10 

• 1 p.m.: Concerts in the Park - Jared Popma & Band (Folk) at Maffeo Sutton Park. Free event.

• 7 p.m.: Rainbow Rave: Silent Disco at Colliery Dam Park. Tickets cost $20. 🏳️‍🌈

• 9:30 p.m.: B.A. Johnston at The Nanaimo Bar. Tickets cost $15.

• 7:30 p.m.: Nanaimo Beatlemania! at Port Theatre. Tickets cost $60.

Thursday, June 11 

• 6:30 p.m.: Pride on the Mic at MGM Restaurant. Admission by donation. 🏳️‍🌈

• 7 p.m.: Road Poets at the Queen's Hotel Nanaimo at The Queen's. Tickets cost $12.06

🎭 View 🖼️

Friday, June 5 

• Noon: Lunchtime tour of “An Animated Assembly" at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $5. 

• 7:30 p.m.: 7 Stories by renowned Vancouver playwright Morris Panych at The OV Arts Centre. Tickets cost $28.

Saturday, June 6 

• 4 p.m.: The Nature of Us - TRAction (Kevin Jesuino) featuring Voices of Nanaimo’s 2SLGBTQQIA+ community at Bowen Park. Admission is free. 🏳️‍🌈

• 7:30 p.m.: 7 Stories by renowned Vancouver playwright Morris Panych at The OV Arts Centre. Tickets cost $28.

Sunday, June 7 

• 11 a.m.: Art in Maffeo Park 2026 at Maffeo Sutton Park. 

• 2 p.m.: 7 Stories by renowned Vancouver playwright Morris Panych at The OV Arts Centre. Tickets cost $28.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Saturday, June 6 

• 9 a.m.: Invasive plants removal at Wellington Hall. 

• 12:30 p.m.: Collage Club at Nanaimo Harbourfront Library.

• 1 p.m.: Break Through The Climate Silence at Harbourfront Library and Diana Krall Plaza.

• 4 p.m.: Beer & Burger Fundraiser for Nanaimo Community Hospice at the Wellington Pub. Tickets cost $35.

Sunday, June 7 

• Noon.: kw'atl'kwu | World Ocean Day at Degnen Bay - Gabriola Island 5 (end of Rowan Way).
  

• 2 p.m.: Sunday Board Game Group at Nanaimo North LIbrary.
  

• 2:30 p.m.: Shut Up & Write: Nanaimo at Nanaimo Harbourfront Library.

Monday, June 8 

• 6 p.m.: Themed Trivia Night: Heated Rivalry Edition at The Queen's. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door. 🏳️‍🌈

Tuesday, June 9 

• 10 a.m.: Knitting Group at Nanaimo North LIbrary.

• 5 p.m.: Nanaimo Pride Flag Raising at Nanaimo City Hall. 🏳️‍🌈 

Wednesday, June 10 

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

• 6:30 p.m.: Sketchy Folks at White Sails Brewing. Free with purchase of food or beverage.

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