While the mainstream music industry shifts toward streaming and digital algorithms, Nanaimo’s punk scene remains firmly rooted in the physical world of mosh pits, headbanging, and primal screams.
Pat Westmacott is the lead vocalist and guitarist of The Grinning Barrets, blending Celtic sounds with punk rock. Westmacott sees the band as the “senior punks in the room,” tasked with “building and enhancing” the community for the next generation.
The Barrets are about to release a new album entitled Dandelions, a name chosen for its symbolism. “Dandelions grow in cracks,” said Dave Greig, guitarist and vocalist from the band. “Dandelions get stepped on and keep growing, and that is really the theme of the album.”
For many people involved in the community, punk is more than a genre; it is a state of resistance and a place for those who don’t feel like they fit in. “Everyone wanted to just kind of be free. We didn’t care what anyone else did as long as you weren’t hurting others,” said Matthew Wing, longtime fan who was a part of the scene in the early 2000s. “It wasn’t just music. It was the people.”
Ryan Lamar, a fan who discovered the scene through classic bands like Rage Against the Machine, notes that the spirit of the subculture is visible everywhere once you start looking for it. “I didn’t really know there was a big scene in Nanaimo until I heard about a couple of the local bands and then I decided to check out a show” said Lamar.
Bands like Danger Box and Gorilla Flip are staples of the Nanaimo scene, frequently appearing at one of the main punk venues, The Globe Live Studio. For younger fans, the appeal lies in the raw energy of the live performance. “Just seeing the level of passion that everybody has, makes it really stands out,” Lamar explained.
Despite the anti-establishment lyrics and aggressive sound, those within the scene describe it as one of the most supportive environments in the city. “If you like fell down in the mosh pit, everyone’s stopping to help you up,” Wing said.
Grieg agreed: “We want to be a safe space for all of our friends, our LGBTQ+ friends, our BIPOC friends…We want to be clear that that’s what we’re doing in our music. Don’t be afraid to turn to the person standing beside you and say hi — 99 times out of 100…people are going to be welcoming and inclusive.”
“It’s a super inclusive space, and that’s the important thing” Westmacott affirmed.
Local bands are preparing for a busy spring season in Nanaimo with the following shows upcoming:
- April 30: Cold Fame, Freeze the Fall, and guests @ The Globe Live Studio
- May 9: The Dark Eighties @ The Queen’s
- May 16: Dead Churches @ The Terminal Bar
In a world that often feels hard to fit into, Nanaimo’s punks are loud and unapologetic. “The punk scene back in the day was awesome…and I think there’s still good punks out there,” Wing said.
If you want to get involved in the punk scene in the city, visit the Nanaimo Punk and Metal Facebook page for show dates and bands looking for new members. If punk music isn’t for you, the city also has many other music scenes to be discovered.
