Quality Block Party returned for their second full iteration since the festival’s 2017 debut during last year’s East Coast Music Week in Saint John. This year, they stepped out of their position as “the other festival” and into spotlight as the coolest show in town. Between April 27th and 29th, 2018, the city turned into a minefield of shows. Here’s how videographers Zach Hachey and Hunter Wilson took it all in.
Quality Block Party is quintessentially Saint John. It’s a little bit gritty, a little bit off the beaten path and full of treasures that might require an intimate knowledge of the city and its characters. It’s the kind of festival that says, “Yeah, this venue is nice and all, but does it have a basement?”
And that is exactly what Saint John is prepared to accommodate. In a lot of cases, those venues are characters in their own right. Nothing screams authenticity like an exposed stone foundation. From Sanctuary Theatre’s vast Gothic Revival complex in the former Germain Street Baptist Church to art galleries like Boyd Pop Up and the architectural curiosity of Jones Gallery and even the much disputed noise-free zone of Taco Pica, Quality Block Party is practically an excuse to explore the city.
“The flow of venues and shows works so well. Being able to catch a little bit of everything really makes me enjoy things more. Especially when you’re heading out with a group of friends that want to hit up different spots,” says videographer Hunter Wilson. “The venue choices this year were a perfect fit. Places that all the local folks already spend a lot of time at.”
“This festival is hands down in my top favourites. The crew who runs it really keeps things tight and flowing smooth. The lineup every year is different. They keep things fresh and welcome in not only a wide array of different acts, but always a wide diverse group of people who enjoy the weekend.”
Amid performances from an eclectic lineup and a strong showing of east coast bands including the likes of Prince Edward Island bedroom pop engineer Russell Louder, Sackville indie veterans Julie Doiron and Jon McKiel, local favourites Little You, Little Me, and Ladd & Lasses, it was Tampa’s performance at Pepper’s Pub that stood out as a highlight of the whole weekend, and the perfect soundtrack to our video recap.
Enjoy responsibly!