Sunk City, a three-day underground music and arts festival, is back in downtown Nanaimo with dozens of artists set to take multiple stages over the May long weekend.
The festival originally started in 2017 as Festival Lemieux, in remembrance of Anton Lemieux, a beloved local musician who died from opioid poisoning. In 2018, the festival changed its name to Backyard Fest as Anton’s father and then owner of Sound Heritage, John Lemieux, wanted the festival to continue under a new name.
“It was a real loss for the community and for everyone that knew him, and probably for the world,” said one of the festival’s organizers Kristjanne Vosper. “He was a really talented artist and writer and all-around wonderful friend and person.”
Last year, the festival had to leave Sound Heritage’s backyard as it was deemed unsafe due to a lack of an alternative fire exit. Instead, it expanded to other venues on Victoria Crescent and took on the name Sunk City.
This year, more than 60 artists will perform in the festival and the main stage will be back behind Sound Heritage after a 59-step staircase was built to provide an emergency exit to Cavan Street.
In addition to the bands, this year’s festival will also see a new partnership with Crimson Coast Dance who will perform in the Mellow Drama Studio.
Crimson Coast will hold a workshop with Justine A. Chambers to teach people how to do the Electric Slide line dance in the backyard.
“Everyone come to that and then go to The Queen’s afterwards,” Vosper suggested. “We can all do the dance.”
There will also be an Artisan Market in the courtyard on Victoria Crescent. The festival will provide a shaded area for kids in the backyard with crafts to keep them busy while parents attend the festival.
Amanda Scott from The Vault Cafe will be teaming up with Chris M. from Paisanos to provide food at the festival, including burgers with vegan and vegetarian options, a salad bowl and pupusas.
“It’s a really awesome community event,” said Jac Proctor, another festival organizer. “It feels really good to be with everyone.”
Local bands make up half the festival
Vosper says she’s looking forward to seeing Sea Moss who will be coming up from Portland, Oregon to play the festival with their unique sound using sequencer boxes and pedals made out of old tea tins.
She’s also looking forward to seeing returning artists Boss Saint B and Hank Pine along with Felonious Parker who will perform a down and dirty, queer and sex-positive hip-hop set.“She’s a poet with a knife for a tongue,” Vosper said.
Part of Sunk City’s mandate is to showcase local, independent and underground artists with at least half of the performers coming from Nanaimo.
Vosper will be on stage herself with a new Nanaimo super-group called Handyman featuring herself (KVMP), Amanda Pizzuto (Apollo Ghost) and Jessica Rampling (Apples).
“It’s like pop-punk meets Dead Moon,” she told The Discourse.
B.R.A.C.E. will be there performing what Vosper calls “political electronic music about local celebrities.”
Gabe Beneteau, who does sound at The Vault Cafe, will give a farewell performance as Gnarls Bronson, as well as drum in Death Proof before moving to Toronto.
Singer-songwriter Elise Boulanger will also perform, as well as local Inuk country music crooner Willie Thrasher who will play with Linda Saddleback.
Proctor told The Discourse that the music in the backyard will shut down before 11 p.m. to comply with the city noise bylaw. The later shows will be held inside venues such as The Vault Cafe, The Queen’s, Mellow Drama Studio and Unit — a performance space near the China Steps.
The festival is run by more than 50 community volunteers with a core of six main organizers. The Sunk City Arts Society was formed as a non-profit organization in 2026 with the goal of amplifying the arts, utilizing public space and providing a platform for local artists.
Tickets for Sunk City cost $115 for a three-day pass or individual day tickets are also available.
Plans for new seasonal event venue underway
Nathan Randall, the owner of Sound Heritage music and stereo, holds the lease for the backyard behind his store which will host Sunk City.
He wants to turn the outdoor space into a special events venue that can be used more regularly for community events like the festival.
The first part of that was installing the staircase, which was built by Jonker Custom Building, to meet the requirements of the fire department.
Now Randall wants to upgrade the space for other types of events such as community markets, workshops, fitness groups and music and art.
Randall has launched a fundraising campaign to help pay for the upgrades, which includes the staircase, upgraded electrical for sound and stage lighting, security improvements, the installation of a seating area and landscaping. So far, almost $2,000 of a $10,000 ask has been raised for the project.
The project did receive some support from Creative BC’s live music business development fund but it didn’t completely cover the costs.
Sound Heritage will hold a backyard open house and fundraiser on Saturday, May 9 with performances by local musicians as well as site tours and a silent auction.
In addition to Sunk City, there are also plans this year to hold a stereo swap meet in May and a community barn dance and fiddle concert in June in the backyard.
“We have a ton of support from our neighbours in the business community as well as local venues,” Randall said. “Together, we can all just elevate the scene and create beautiful safe spaces for celebrating music and art downtown.”
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