Big Band Day 1 Friday, May 17, 2024 at 7:30 PM PDT

A Yesteryear of Big Band Swing KICKS off the Nanaimo Big Band Festival 2024

Join the Vancouver Island Repertory Jazz Orchestra for a musical journey through the Golden Age of Swing - when big band jazz was king, the bandleaders wildly popular personalities, the music infectious and swing dancing was life!

Narrated by actor Joelle Rabu, “A History of Big Band Swing” will take you back in time to re-live the music of the greats Big Bands - Duke Ellington, Count Basie, the venerable Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, and Benny Goodman. The Nanaimo Ballroom Dance Society will take to the stage and perform the beautiful dance moves of the era.

VIRJO will perform classic hit songs like “In the Mood”, “One O’ Clock Jump”, “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You”, “It don’t mean a thing if it Ain’t got that Swing” and of course “Sing, Sing, Sing” - all with that pure, original big band sound!

Night One of Nanaimo Big Band Festival 2024 promises to be an incredible night of re-living the amazing music from the 30’s!

Buy a 3 Day Festival Pass or a 2 Day Pass (Friday & Saturday) to SAVE! Call 250-754-8550 for package options.