2023 Performers
Featuring Local Talent
Note: The performers and schedule shown below are from last year’s Comox Nautical Days Festival. The 2024 Performer Schedule will be post when available. Stay tuned for an update on this year’s fantastic entertainment!
The Availables
Monday Main Stage 1:15-2:15pm
The Availables are from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. They are touring B.C. This vibrant band play all styles of music ranging from blues to rock. Paul Lions Sellier on guitar and vocals, Reyes Brione on drums, Ricardo Manchs on bass and vocals and his son Angel Manchs on sax.
Brice Tabish
Saturday Main Stage 4:30-5:30pm
Ralph Barrat Jazz Quartet
Monday Main Stage 4:30-5:15pm
Brodie Dawson
Saturday Sails Stage 11:30-12:30pm
Named ‘Vocalist of the Year’ @ VIMA’s and nominated for ‘Best Live Act’ for 2 years consecutively, Brodie Lee Dawson is a force to be reckoned with. Her voice will leave you spellbound…
“Soulful bluesy folk with a gospel funk, a twist of pop, and twang of old school country”
WILL I EVER is off her 3rd album ‘Wholehearted’ recorded in Nashville with some of the city’s heavy-hitting musicians. Hear her crowd-favourite single I’M MOVIN’ ON currently in rotation on SiriusXM Radio CBC-Country! And find SKIP A BEAT and PAYCHECK wherever you stream your music.
Cafe Ole
Monday Sails Stage 2:15-3:15pm
Get ready for an incredible night with this dynamic duo as they bring to you the best Spanish and Latin-American inspired music in the valley!
Coaldust Gang
Monday Mainstage 3:15-4;15pm
The Coal Dust Gang play their own brand of boot stomping, two stepping, skinny dipping, trail running, bike jumping, tire squeeling, dodgy country music. This gang of locals have been honky tonkin all over the Islands since their first underground party two years ago. Saddle up for Cumberland’s favourite outlaws, The Coal Dust Gang.
Coast to Coast
Sunday Mainstage 4:20-5pm
Coast to Coast is a trio with Lainie Laughlin, Corey Francis and Scott Lyle. Three different tastes in music mashed into an eclectic set of tunes honed with great enthusiasm after five years together.
Desmond Day
Saturday Sails Stage 1:00-1:30pm
Sunday Sails Stage 11:30- 12:30pm
Desmond Day is a local Vancouver Island based singer/ songwriter in the process of developing a new sound that resonates with a young and engaged audience. Day’s songs are original and homegrown. A seasoned performer with more than ten years experience with audiences of all shapes and sizes. Day’s songs with a message of joy, peace and love are proven audience pleasers. Having performed throughout western Canada, Day has generated a solid fan base with a dedicated following.
Doc Fingers
Saturday Sails Stage 2:15 – 3:15
A barrel house blues and boogie woogie piano player in the style of Otis Spann, Dr. John, and Professor Long Hair and ready to rock the room by himself or with his band. Doc Fingers has been a member of the Vancouver Music Scene for 30 years. He has played with many musical greats including Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker and his band, David Gilmore of Pink Floyd, Rita Coolidge, Frank Zappa, Mississippi John Hurt, Bo Diddley, Lee Oscar, Stevie Winwood and many others. His musical influences include Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Louis Jordan, Otis Spann, Muddy Waters among others.
Élise & the Ridgeriders
Saturday Mainstage 1:00 -2:00PM
Steve Elliott – Elvis Tribute
Saturday Mainstage 5:40 – 6:40
Sunday Mainstage 12:10- 1:10pm
Sunday Mainstage 6:30-8:00pm
There will three performances by Steve Elliott, Tribute to Elvis.You can look forward to many gospel favourites and rock and roll songs made famous by Elvis Presley.
Steve has been a performer since 2000 and has won various Elvis contests throughout Canada, including the Grand Canadian Championship of the Pacific Northwest Elvis Festival 2004 in Penticton.
He travels now full time with his “Elvis Elite “show and his act has taken him throughout Canada and the USA. Expect a high energy tribute to the Century’s Most Celebrated and Loved…. Elvis Presley! Steve has the Young Elvis down to a tee, along with the hip swivels and classic duck walk that made Elvis so recognizable in the 50’s! Crooning through the Ballads and Rockabilly Hits, Steve is ready to shake!
Hella Blue
Monday Mainstage 6:45- 7:45
HELLA BLUE is here to knock out some memorable dance beat blues from the 60s to today. From slow tunes to uptempo, if you can’tt dance to it, we don’t play it. More than your standard blues fare, HELLA BLUE reworks the Chicago Blues Classics and adds a modern flare. Featuring
the incredible vocals of Tami Blazer, crushing the bass is James Ireland, with screaming guitar solos from Stu Johnson and solid grooves by drummer Gabe Vadas. The members of HELLA BLUE have each been performing in all genres of music for more than three decades.
Anela Kahiamoe
Saturday Sails Stage 8:30-11:00am
Sunday Sails Stage 8:30-11:00am
Monday Sails Stage 8:30-11:00am
Anela has been a professional musician since the age of 17, opened up concerts in Hawaii with his band Island Band for Fleetwood Mac, Earth Wind and Fire, Huey Lewis and the News, and other acts. He has also performed as a solo artist at Vancouver Island Musicfest as well as back up musician for Juno Award Winner Sue Medley. Anela loves Vancouver Island so much, he became a citizen in 2019.
The Laurie Tinkler School of Dance
Sunday Mainstage 1:30 – 2:15pm
The Laurie Tinkler School of Dance has been offering dance classes and entertaining audiences in the Comox Valley for over 35 years. We offer classes to children and adults starting at age 3 in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Highland, Irish, Hip Hop and more.
Laurie Tinkler School of Dance
17A-2755 Moray Avenue
Courtenay, BC V9N8M9
250.897.8885
Luke Blu Guthrie – Heart Beatin’ Rhythm & Blues
Sunday Mainstage 3:15-4:00pm
Luke Blu Guthrie is an Independent Rhythm and Blues artist born & raised on Vancouver Island. An Alternative Roots Style is his foundation for an array of Acoustic & Electric guitars that support soulful vocals, a unique foot percussion rig and sounds derived from the swamp and his own colourful ancestry.
Guthrie has lived and worked in the Western Canadian Music Scene for over twenty years with numerous independent releases and tours around the country.
www.youtube.com/lukebluguthrie
The Lunchbox Legends
Monday Mainstage 12:00-1:00pm
Each member of the Lunchbox Legends is bringing something a little different to the table. They each have their own influences, styles and abilities, but it’s the synergy that gives the music it’s distinct and unique musical flavour. The music has its roots in the songwriting of Chris Hansen (acoustic & electric guitar, vocals ) frayed on the edges with Judy Wing’s soulful songwriting and vocals ( keyboard, guitar & vocals ) virtuoso Blaine Dunaway ( violin, chin cello, flugelhorn & trumpet ), the creative smooth bass lines of Bruce Wing ( bass, flute, vocals ) and Brian ( Fuzz ) Morisette on percussion. Their music has been described as having strong influences from world travels and life’s journey combined with compassionate honesty and positive messages.
The Ocean Waves
Monday Maple Square 2:10-2:40pm
Square dancing has been going on in Comox Valley since 1954 with various callers and club names over the years. It started out as “The Co-Ho Downers”, then “Comox Valley Squares”, and finally “The Ocean Waves” (since 1977). The current club caller, Fran Archambault, has been with us since 2011 and she teaches square dancing weekly on Monday nights in Courtenay. New dancers are welcomed every September at the start of the season. This year, the club welcomed 15 new dancers! We hold dances 2X per month in Courtenay and also attend dances in other communities such as Nanaimo, Campbell River, Powell River, and Victoria. We are a happy and active bunch, optimistic that square dancing will continue for years to come!
The Optimists
Monday Mainstage 5:30 – 6:15pm
The Optimists Band is made up of three veteran performers in the music industry. Colleen Noiles Brooks spent many years on the road honing her craft as both a band leader and side person, performing bass, lead and background vocals. Bob Johnstone is the drummer, singer and the funny guy that keeps the night rolling smoothly. Bob has been playing onstage since his teens, and his ability to drum and sing at the same time is nothing short of amazing. John Mundy on guitar and backing vocals has been doing this, longer than most people have been around, and is a veteran of over forty recording projects. Together as The Optimists, they are very engaging with the crowd, and have a wide ranging repertoire that covers everything from country to pop, rock and one hit wonders.
Judy and Bruce Wing – with Blaine Dunaway
Sunday Sails Stage 2:15-3:15pm
Kevin Ogren – Magician
Sunday Mainstage 2:30-3pm
Monday Sails Stage 1:00-2:00pm
Kevin Ogren was born and raised on Vancouver Island. He is an elementary school teacher and has been performing the Myster-O Magic Show for more than 25 years. His magic shows combine classics of magic and humour to create an entertaining show for the whole family.
Sebastian Robles
Saturday Young Performers Showcase 10:30-11:00
Originally from Mexico City, Sebastian Robles Servin is a guitarist currently based in the Comox Valley. Awarded ‘Best Guitarist’ at the 2022 Zattzoo Project’s Battle of the Bands in Port Alberni, his playing is inspired by legends such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Jimi Hendrix, and Archie Cruz.
Quarantones
Sunday Mainstage 5:30-6:30pm
The Quarantones Male Chorus is a 12-man, auditioned choir from the Comox Valley, singing music from a broad spectrum of genres and styles. Members of the Quarantones have experience and backgrounds in such fields as musical theatre, rock and roll, opera, church and community choirs, folk and roots ensembles, barbershop, and music education. With Denise Marquette as conductor and Kelly Thomas on keyboards, they launched their very first concert featuring sea shanties in 2021. For Nautical Days, the group will return to a sea shanties theme in keeping with the spirit of the weekend.
Taze Kozak & the Death Peppers
Monday Sailstage 11:30-12:30pm
Tightrope
Saturday Mainstage 2:15-3:00pm
Tightrope is an electric tribute to the blues. Their energetic performances have been felt around Vancouver Island performing at festivals local venues. Tightrope is comprised of Lorne Fugle on guitar, Dave Stevenson on Fender bass, David Thrasher on harmonica, and Greg Hill on drums.
Time Well Wasted
Monday Mainstage 8:30-9:50pm
Time Well Wasted is a Comox Valley musical institution. With a performance legacy stretching nearly 25-years, the band is unchallenged as the longest continuously performing dance band in the Comox Valley. Over the years, over 60-musicians have been involved with the band … but without any doubt, the current line-up is the strongest yet.
Lead trumpet player and vocalist Dave Robertson leads the band and the powerful five-piece horn section, including Claudio Faninato on alto saxophone. Claudio, a veteran jazz/r&b player and amazing soloist is an incredible addition to Time Well Wasted. The rest of the horn section, Rachel Fuller, Roger Kirk, Julie Kenny and Paul Nuez provide a key component of the band’s signature sound.
The rhythm section is a virtual musical freight train – powerful, pulsing, and rock-steady. Comprised of Art Van Volsen on drums, John Mang on keyboards and vocals, Jeff Gillespie on guitars and vocals, Brian “Fuzz” Morissette on percussion and vocals, and founding member Mike Hilland on bass guitar, these guys will drive the sit-and-listen crowd to get up and dance!
On the front line, Charity Monro and Lindsay Klassen are the band’s two female lead vocalists. Together, they bring range, power and a sibling quality vocal blend to every song the band performs.
But best of all, it is the music that sets this band. The Time Well Wasted repertoire includes very best of funk, soul, rock, rhythm and blues, including Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Doobie Brothers, Kool and the Gang, Toto, Chicago, Little Feat, Steely Dan, Santana, Aretha Franklin … and many, many more.
Typsy Gypsy Jazz
Monday Sails Stage 3:30 – 4:15
Calling beautiful mid-East Vancouver Island home, the “Typsys” are happy to offer up a mélange of Acoustic Swing Jazz, specifically in the traditional Manouche-Gypsy format and style (from the late 1920’s through the ’30’s-featuring many compositions by Jean Baptiste “Django” Reinhardt-as performed by his famous quintet, The Hot Club of France), but also in other varied popular swing style songs and instrumentals. Jazz Manouche groups generally consisted of a lead guitar, violin, two rhythm guitars and bass. This music can be both melancholy and passionate, often played with fire and panache. The Typsy Gypsys keep that tradition alive and are very excited to be able to share this exciting music genre with any kind of audience, including ones new to this experience as well as old school Django fans! The Typsy Gypsy Jazz Band’s members are:
Callum Paterson-Lead Guitar and Vocals
Jerry Schneider-Rhythm Guitar
Tom Neville-Violin
David Mitchell-Acoustic Bass
Christy Vanden
Saturday Sails Stage 11:30-am-12:30pm
Inspired by 10 years of travel to Baja, Mexico, and influenced by her West Coast surroundings in British Columbia, 28-year-old Comox Valley singer-songwriter Christy Vanden’s musical journey is always evolving!
She is known for touring with Canadian artists Brodie Dawson and Karen Lee Batten as their lead guitarist and for being part of the award-nominated female trio, She Could Be Trouble on Vancouver Island (also playing lead guitar and singing). She will be playing uplifting fingerstyle acoustic guitar melodies, and original compositions from her upcoming instrumental EP, “Unexpected Road” as well as a mix of folk, jazz, country and blues cover songs.
Wild Revival Band
Saturday Mainstage 3:20-4:20pm
What we have here is a band of troubadours wielding magical realism on the chariot of psychedelic folk rock; standing on rain-drenched bluffs above rising Anthropocene seas, howling to our feral family of creatures to come forth and give voice to this one polyphonic song of existence.
