An underground music and comedy festival with roots in the Norwegian rock scene has resurfaced on the Sunshine Coast, with an expanded lineup coming to Gibsons and Roberts Creek venues in late June.
Turbofest 2024 will include Vancouver-based comedy headliners Kevin von Helvete and Evan Mumford alongside homegrown comedian Sophia Ballantyne, the founder of Coast Comedy.
The four-day festival builds on the success of its inaugural run last year, which featured live performances from 16 bands. This year’s schedule adds another half-dozen groups, including local bands Sinmobile and The Skookumchuck Wipeouts plus The Ramores, an East Vancouver-based Ramones tribute band.
Marquee funnyman von Helvete calls himself a “can’t stand up” comedian; he was paralyzed in a vehicle accident and explores life as a paraplegic through comedy, podcasting and inspirational speaking. He is also the president of Turbojugend Vancouver, a fan club dedicated to the music of Norwegian deathpunk band Turbonegro.
“Turbonegro is also the name for a colour, and it’s the darkest black,” said Jake Warren, a member of the Sunshine Coast’s Turbojugend chapter and organizer of Turbofest 2024. “Turbonegro plays this anthemic kind of music — Alice Cooper meets the Village People with a little bit of a straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll. Maybe throw some Ramones in there too.”
Among the worldwide Turbojugend network (the word literally translates as “Turbo Youth”), some clubs organize their own musical festivals. One-time events in Guadalajara, Mexico and Hamburg, Germany have burgeoned into annual destination gatherings.
“So this is our own version of a Canadian West Coast fan club gathering for like-minded musicians, fans of rock ‘n’ roll, and having a good laugh,” said Warren.
Turbofest events are scheduled for a trio of venues: the Roberts Creek Legion (June 27, 28, and 29), the 101 Brewhouse in Gibsons (June 29) and the One Foot Crow Distillery (June 30). All venues provide all-ages access during specific hours provided youth under 19 are accompanied by adult guardians.
Musical acts at the 101 Brewhouse will take place on an outdoor stage, highlighting performances by Vancouver-born songwriter (and one-time thrash metal artist) Big John Bates, garage rockers The Bad Beats, and power-pop ensemble the Slip-Ons.
Several bands from Vancouver Island will perform sets, including punk artists Lords of Apathy and Awkward AC (both from Nanaimo), plus electro-punk-metal duo Dollhead from Comox. Touring performance artist B.A. Johnston will accompany himself on guitar and keyboard, delivering tongue-in-cheek tributes to the consumable ephemera of pop culture.
“Anybody can put on a rock show,” mused Warren, who is part of the five-member committee bringing the Coast’s second Turbofest to reality. “But we ask ourselves, how can we layer this to make it more appealing for other groups of people too, who might not necessarily be super jazzed about all the punk rock and heavier elements?”
Expanded support from independent entrepreneurs has allowed Turbofest to scale up. “We wouldn’t be able to do this if we weren’t supported by local businesses,” explained Warren. Three tattoo parlours, record stores, cafés and hair salons have pitched in to purchase bulk festival ticket pages.
The Turbofest schedule, all-access passes and individual event tickets are available online at turbofest2024.tickit.ca.
