The Summertime Blues Festival returns for 2011 with a lineup that includes Jim Byrnes, Downchild Blues Band and Nanaimo’s own David Gogo.
Funding cutbacks led to the cancellation of last year’s festival but the Nanaimo Blues Society revamped the festival to proceed Aug. 26-28 at Maffeo Sutton Park.
To help cover costs of the expanded festival, tickets will be sold. A beer garden will also be on site.
Early bird tickets are on sale now at $75 for a three-day pass until June 30. Passes go up to $95 after that date. Single evening tickets are also available for $40.
For tickets or for more information, please call Headliners at 250-753-2323.
Banners brighten Nanaimo streets
The annual banner festival from the Nanaimo Art Gallery returns to brighten Nanaimo’s streets throughout the summer.
Residents volunteer to design and paint banners, which hang from lamp posts on city streets from May to October. This year’s theme is Life’s Treasures.
Entry forms are available at both gallery locations as well as from the website www.nanaimoartgallery.com. Deadline to register is March 23.
Restaurant star of Fringe Flick
A house party of a comedy is the last film in the Fringe Flicks series for this year.
Director Fatih Akin’s Soul Kitchen follows a restaurateur in Hamburg, Germany, and his acquaintances, including a beautiful girlfriend moving to Shanghai for work, a larcenous brother, an unscrupulous realtor and a tax collector. To save his restaurant, the owner goes looking for the city’s rock star chef.
The movie screens at Avalon April 3 at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. and April 4 at 7 p.m. Tickets $12. Please call 250-754-7587.