Nanaimo Big Band Festival DAY 1 – Headliner Ken Lavigne

The 3-Day Nanaimo Big Band Festival kicks off on Friday September 2 in Maffeo Sutton Park, in Nanaimo Harbour on Vancouver Island. Come Dance the Weekend Away… listen to your favourite songs from the Big Band Era of great music. www.nanaimobigbandfest.com
All shows rain or shine

Friday Sep. 2   5pm-9pm
Headliner: Ken Lavigne “Let Me Be Frank”
plus Opening Acts

5:30 p.m. Opener: “King of Swing” featuring the Music of Count Basie with the Vancouver Island Repertory Jazz Orchestra (VIRJO).
Guest Singers: Ty Koch and Teighan Couch
There is no jazz trailblazer like the venerable William James “Count” Basie. The Count Basie Orchestra sound defined an era and dominated the jazz scene in the 1930’s, 40’s and even later in the 50’s and 60’s! The VIRJO will pay tribute to the monumental music of this jazz big band leader with an outstanding 17-piece band tackling the greatest hits of the Basie Orchestra! You will hear some of Basie’s most loved compositions and arrangements including One O’clock Jump, April in Paris, ShinyStockings, Lil’ Darlin, Corner Pocket and many more! There is no big band sound like the distinctive Count Basie sound – sophisticated yet playful music that the whole family can hum and dance along to! While it is truly hard to replicate the exact sound of Basie’s music, VIRJO creates an engaging and authentic representation that makes you feel like Basie is musically present.

7 p.m. Headliner: Ken Lavigne presents “Let Me Be Frank” with the Vancouver Island Repertory Jazz Orchestra.
Singer Ken Lavigne returns to the stage for his first in person show on Vancouver Island in over two years with Let me be Frank! celebrating the velvet tones of much-loved crooners from Frank Sinatra to Michael Bublé. Audiences can expect to hear your favourite songs – Fly Me to the Moon, All of Me, Sway, As Time Goes By, Save the Last Dance and more…performed with undeniable style with the Vancouver Island Repertory Jazz Orchestra.
For Ken, this music evokes a more romantic time in history, a time when dating and love were a little more mysterious, a little more special than simply a photo or status change on Facebook. “The crooners’ corner is all about simplicity, smooth vocals, and style,” he says. “For me it evokes a time when the anticipation of going out on the town came with a real sense of occasion, when air travel was glamorous, when being in love was worth singing about and the future was hopeful”.

VIP Ticket: Seating provided

• VIP 3 Day Festival Pass: $149. Includes 2 albums by Ken Lavigne & Joelle Rabu and seating provided
• VIP Single Day Ticket: $62 for Sept. 2 (incl. album) & Sept. 3 (incl. album) and seating provided  / Sept. 4 – $45  and seating provided

General Seating:  Bring your own Chair 

• 3 Day Festival Pass: $79
• Single Day Ticket: $34
• Student Tickets: $20
• Family Ticket: 2 Adults & 2 Children (17 and under): $70

CALL OUR TICKET CENTRE 250-754-8550

 All shows rain or shine