Simonholt Restaurant

08/31/2026

🎉 SEPTEMBER AT SIMONHOLT — LIVE MUSIC, JAZZ, KARAOKE, MAGIC, CRAFTS & NEW CONNECTIONS! 🎉

September is packed with reasons to get out, meet new people, enjoy great food and drinks, and experience something different at Simonholt! From magic, jazz and reggae to SAX DJ, karaoke, crafts, live bands and speed dating, there’s something happening all month long.

✨ Friday, Sept. 4 — Magic Show Special Event | $15
Experience the fun and surprise of close-up magic while enjoying your Friday night at Simonholt.
⏰ 6:30–7:30 PM

🎸 Sunday, Sept. 6 — Jazz Night | $30
The Elliot Freedman Group with special guest John Stowell
⏰ 7:30–9:30 PM

🌴 Friday, Sept. 11 — Cheko Soto & Band | $15
A high-energy Live Reggae Night filled with rhythm and great vibes.
⏰ 7:30–9:30 PM

🎷 Saturday, Sept. 12 — SAX DJ LIVE | $15
Featuring Howard Anderson — saxophone meets DJ energy for a unique night out!
⏰ 7:30–9:30 PM

🎤 Sunday, Sept. 20 — Karaoke Night | FREE
Grab the mic, bring your friends and sing your favourite hits!
⏰ 6:30–9:30 PM

🎨 Wednesday, Sept. 23 — Craft Night | $25–$28
Lost Arts Club presents Gemstone Crafts — create, connect and have fun.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages welcome!
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM

🤠 Saturday, Sept. 26 — The Pontiac Bandits | $15
Live music, great food, cold drinks and Saturday-night energy!
⏰ 7:30–9:30 PM

❤️ Sunday, Sept. 27 — Speed Dating 55+ | $25
Designed especially for the 55+ crowd, but all adults are welcome! Your ticket includes one complimentary drink.
🚪 Doors 5:00 PM | Dating starts 5:30 PM

🎩 PLUS — MAGIC EVERY FRIDAY!
Sept. 4 is our $15 special Magic Show event, with FREE Magic Shows on the other Fridays. Come for dinner, stay for a little magic, and make Friday night something special.

September at Simonholt is about more than events — it’s about music, laughter, creativity, new friendships and building community right here in Nanaimo.

Come for dinner. Stay for the experience. Make a night of it! 🥂

📍 Simonholt Restaurant
6582 Applecross Rd., Nanaimo, BC
📞 Reservations: 250-933-3338

Great Food · Great Drinks · Live Entertainment · Good Company

See you this September at Simonholt! 🎶✨

08/31/2026

🎤 NANAIMO — KARAOKE IS BACK! 🎉🎶

After the huge success of our first Karaoke Night, we’re excited to announce the next one!

📅 Sunday, September 20
⏰ 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
🎟️ FREE EVENT • NO COVER CHARGE

Our first night was packed with music, laughter, amazing singers and incredible energy. ❤️ Thank you to everyone who grabbed the mic, cheered from their tables and made the night such a success!

Now it’s time to do it again! 🔥

🎤 Sing your favorite hits
🎶 All voices welcome
🥂 Great food & drinks
❤️ Great people & great vibes

You don’t have to be a great singer — you just have to be ready to have a great time!

🍽️ Come for dinner. Stay for Karaoke.
⭐️ And maybe YOU’ll be the star of the night!

⚠️ Reservations strongly recommended!

📍 Simonholt Restaurant
6582 Applecross Rd., Nanaimo
📞 250-933-3338

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 — SEE YOU AT THE MIC! 🎤🔥

08/31/2026

Simonholt is very pleased to announce that the Elliot Freedman Group will be playing for us, Sunday September 6th. 7:30pm.
This sextet contains some of the West Coast's finest players, led by Elliot Freedman (Baritone gtr.), from Portland the extraordinary John Stowell (gtr.), Vancouver based John Stetch (keys), Nick Apivor (vibraphone), Dan Howard (bass) and Paul Mason (drums).

The band will be playing compositions from their highly acclaim 2025 release, Bands of Merriment, Vol. 1 WEST COAST QUINTET LIVE ("Uncompromising ... Highly recommended" Innerviews), which was recorded at Simonholt in association with Quadwrangle Productions!

This one is a musical tour-de-force, not to be missed. Elliot is a creative virtuoso who has no fear of musical boundaries! Proclaimed by the Guitar Player Magazine as; "Very, very good avant fusion".
Tickets for Elliot's show are $30.00 (students, NIJFA subscribers and Quadwrangle Regulars $25.00) available from Simonholt (250) 933-3338.

The finest dining experience in Nanaimo

08/31/2026

LIFT OFF with RED GIANT as you embark on a musical journey with a group of seasoned,

professional musicians from Vancouver Island. RED GIANT is a group of seasoned local

musicians, playing your favourite Rock & Roll hits from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s to present, RED

GIANT is excited to take you on a journey that is out of this world.

Phil Dickson – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Stu Johnson - Lead Guitar

Scott Arkell – Piano, Synth

Chad Cleveland – Bass Guitar

Kevin Bishop – Drums, Vocals

Some recent comments sent into us:

“…we danced the whole time!”

“[Your] live music helped to make our event that much more successful!”

“Small or large stage, they are worth seeing!”

“You can see that they love what they do!”

08/31/2026

55+ SPEED DATING NIGHT AT SIMONHOLT
Ready to meet someone new? Join us for a fun and relaxed evening of speed dating for singles aged 55 and over.
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Doors open: 5:00 PM
Speed dating begins: 5:30 PM
Location: Simonholt Restaurant
6582 Applecross Road, Nanaimo
Tickets: $25
Your ticket includes one complimentary drink.
Suggested age is 55+, but all adults are welcome. Space is limited, so reserve your spot early!
Speed Dating Event starts around 5:30pm
Hosted by Wanapa Frandsen, you'll enjoy a warm, welcoming atmosphere while meeting new people through many speed dates, each lasting 2.5 minutes. After the speed dating session, stay for an open mingle hour to reconnect and continue the conversation.

08/31/2026

The Pontiac Bandits have been making their way around Vancouver Island all summer, from local stages to the main stage at SunFest. Now they’re finally saddling up for a night in Nanaimo.

Expect hard-edged country, outlaw tunes, soulful Americana, rock ’n’ roll and a whole lot of music made for dancing.

📍 Simon Holt Restaurant
📅 Saturday, September 26th 7:30PM

08/23/2026

💘 WHAT A NIGHT! NANAIMO SPEED DATING WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! 💘

Last night at Simonholt was all about real conversations, real laughter, and real connections. ❤️

👨 15 men
👩 17 women
🥂 32 amazing people came together, stepped outside their comfort zones, and gave themselves a chance to meet someone new.

The room was full of energy — conversations flowing, lots of smiles, and plenty of people staying to mingle long after the speed dating rounds were over.

And that was exactly what we hoped for.

In a world of dating apps and endless swiping, sometimes it feels good to simply put down the phone, sit across from someone, look them in the eyes, and have a real conversation.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us, and to Wanapa Frandsen / Wanapa’s Entertainment for hosting such a wonderful evening! ❤️

Judging by last night…

✨ Nanaimo is definitely ready for more Speed Dating!

Missed this one? Stay tuned — the next one may be coming soon. 👀💕

Come Solo. Leave Connected.

📍 Simonholt Restaurant
6582 Applecross Rd., Nanaimo

08/17/2026

Cheko Soto and Band

Based in the Cowichan Valley, sharing a strong message of love and consciousness.



Born in Mexico City, into a large extended family of musicians, Cheko was immediately immersed in the musical traditions of Mexico. Growing up in Guadalajara, he began playing music at the age of 12 and went on to study classical guitar at the University of Guadalajara school of music.

https://www.showpass.com/cheko-soto-band-live-reggae-night-at-simonholt/

08/17/2026

Holly Wood Lead Vocals. Acoustic Guitar. Harmonica
Holly started playing music at age 11 and was in her first performing band at age 13 carrying on ever since in a wide selection of different bands
playing her way both full time professionally through Western Canada and continuing on. The highlight of her youth was singing at Expo 86 and singing with members of the Guess Who on Galliano Island in the early 90's. Since then she has continued singing herself and doing background vocals for various recording projects.

Her love for all genres of music led to making herself available for various projects with other musicians throughout her years and giving her a distinct and versatile vocal style. Some of her female music influences Include Olivia Newton John, Cindy Lauper, Whitney Houston, Stevie Nicks, Melissa Etheridge, Pink, Annie Lenox and Patsy Cline just to name a few.

Now part of the 4 piece band playing classic and current Rock , Pop, Country Rock and R&B called "Hollywood Knights"

Darrell Gardner Drums, Vocals, Percussion

The Precision Time Keeper holding down the foundation of any band he plays with. Darrell started playing the drums at the age of 12 and was playing live shows by high school. He continued to play full time through the 1980's and 1990's touring across Western Canada with a variety of bands. He has been the time keeper for many local bands including Big Bang Baby and Cheeky Monkey as well as playing with other local musicians at various times through the last 30 years. His influences are vast and many.

Michael Peterson Guitars and Vocals

Michael has been playing music since grade 3 playing his first live gig then on a paddle wheel boat in San Diego Harbor, During junior high in Nanaimo he formed his first professional band playing around the island and then spent many years playing throughout Western Canada in a variety of touring bands through the 1980's and 1990's and since continued in a variety of bands around Vancouver Island. Michael and Darrell started playing together in grade 12 and have been playing together on and off ever since, playing throughout western Canada and together throughout the Island and local area since 2008 in Big Bang Baby and Cheeky Monkey as well as some side projects.

Mark Dutchuk Bass Guitar

Since his first paid gig at the age of 14, Mark has had the bug to play music. Mark has appeared on everything from punk albums to JazzFest stages, and played in many local bands since moving to the island. His musical influences draw from jazz, rock, electronica, and middle eastern music. Mark likes to anchor the band's sound with solid rubbery bass lines, working closely with the drummer to create a deep dance groove. Whether he's playing a classic rock tune or a modern pop hit, Mark's energy never wanes. He knows how to work the crowd, interacting with them in playful ways, and often teases his bandmates to get a reaction. Mark always seems to be having fun on stage and he loves to keep the crowd dancing and grooving along

https://www.showpass.com/saturday-night-live-with-hollywood-knights-at-simonholt/

08/07/2026

SAXDJLIVE EXPERIENCE WITH HOWARD ANDERSON

Live at Simonholt Restaurant

7:30pm-9:30pm

SaxDJLive is a live sax and DJ experience created and performed by Howard Anderson. Blending expressive saxophone with carefully curated tracks, Howard shapes each set around the room, the audience, and the pace of the event. The music can begin with soulful, conversation-friendly lounge sounds and build naturally through nu-disco, house, funk, pop, R&B, and reworked classics. Designed for weddings, corporate events, festivals, private celebrations, resorts, and upscale hospitality venues, SaxDJLive offers the flexibility of a DJ and the presence of a live musician in one compact, polished show.

https://www.showpass.com/saxdjlive-experience-with-howard-anderson-at-simonholt/