About Us

Honk! represents a tradition of activist brass bands and drum lines coming together to build momentum for social change and to bring people from all over together. As long time participants of Honks! in Boston, Austin, Seattle and beyond, the Open Air Orchestra Society decided to throw our hat in the ring and host the first Canadian version of the festival. Come One, Come All!

2023 Festival

The 2023 edition of HONK! BC features a diverse lineup of brass bands from Vancouver and beyond!

Host Bands

• The Carnival Band
• Greenhorn

Local Bands

• False Creek Flats (Vancouver, BC)
• Legion of Flying Monkeys (Vancouver, BC)
• Balkan Shmalkan (Vancouver, BC)
• Noxious Obs Society (New Westminster, BC)

International Bands

• Analog Brass (Bellingham, WA)

Past Festivals

HONK! BC was founded in 2018 as the first festival of activist street bands in Canada! Here’s a list of the bands all across North America who have joined us in the past.

2022 Festival

• July 15 - 17, 2022
• Bands featured:
  • The Carnival Band
  • Greenhorn
  • False Creek Flats (Vancouver, BC)
  • Legion of Flying Monkeys (Vancouver, BC)
  • Balkan Shmalkan (Vancouver, BC)
  • Bloco Energia (Vancouver, BC)

2019 Festival

• August 9 - 11, 2019
• Bands featured:
  • The Carnival Band
  • Greenhorn
  • Balkan Shmalkan
  • Rise Up! Action Band (Seattle, WA)
  • Noxious Obs Society (New Westminster, BC)
  • Quinta Kalavera (Guadalajara, Mexico)
  • Artesian Rumble Arkestra (Olympia, WA)
  • Trash Talk (Seattle, WA)

2018 Festival

• August 8 - 10, 2018
• Bands featured:
  • The Carnival Band
  • Greenhorn
  • Balkan Shmalkan
  • Bloco Energia
  • Rise Up! Action Band
  • Filthy Femcorps (Seattle, WA)
  • Home Going Brass Band (Vancouver, BC)
  • Freddy Fuddpucker (North Vancouver, BC)