Stir Cheat Sheet: 5 top stops at the Khatsahlano Street Party

From legendary names in Vancouver’s music scene to ice-cold craft beers and a bangin’ kids stage, here are a few features to hit on West 4th Avenue on July 5

By Janet Smith

(Clockwise from top left) Rain or Shine Ice Cream; Theremin Man Stephen Hamm; the Burrard Stage.

The Khatsahlano Street Party takes place July 5 along West 4th Avenue, between Macdonald and Burrard streets, from 11 am to 9 pm.

THE KHATSAHLANO STREET PARTY will take on a distinctive summer-camp vibe when it takes over West 4th Avenue, complete with concert stages—featuring more than 60 artists in all—plus food trucks, artisan booths, and much more on July 5.

The massive festival, launched back in 2011 by the Kitsilano West 4th Avenue Business Association, has a #CampKhats theme this year, meaning visitors can collect badges to win prizes.

Amid the free concert offerings, all curated by Zulu Records, Meltt is headlining the Burrard mainstage Saturday night; Stir speaks to the Vancouver group here.

And below, find a few more musical acts to catch, plus other ways to get into the spirit of the day. Happy camping!

Joe Keithley (top); Perfume Tree.

#1

Check out a legend in the local music scene

Some truly iconic names from Vancouver music lore are hitting the Khats lineup Saturday, starting with none other than Joe “Shithead” Keithley—the legendary D.O.A. frontman and godfather of hardcore, not to mention Burnaby city councillor, who takes the Burrard Stage at 6:50 pm. Earlier in the afternoon, at the same spot at 4:30 pm, a musician who’s played bass with everyone from the Evaporators to Slow performs on a trippy alternate instrument: Stephen Hamm is Theremin Man—this time playing his antennaed, “intergalactic” device with his Space Family Band. Over at the Vine Stage at 11 am, you can catch John Werner, a member of the 1970s trailblazers the Furies, as he brings to life psychedelic, punk-powered rock with his bandmates in Sudden Darts. And those who came of age in the ’90s will want to make their way to the Macdonald Stage at 2 pm: that era’s well-known Perfume Tree, a Vancouver trio that set ethereal vocals against swirling keyboards and guitarscapes, is back—and still ripping it up.

Stackers burger truck.

#2

Gorge yourself at the food trucks

Fuel your concert-going by visiting the food trucks that will pack West 4th Avenue for Khats fest—most of them concentrated between Balsam Street and Larch Street. Start the day with a visit to kind-of-brunchy Crack On, which specializes in gourmet egg sandwiches; our fave is the Cracketta, a bánh mì bun stacked with smoked porchetta, crispy chicken skin, gochujang sauce, chimichurri, and more fixings. Mid-afternoon, you’ll find us chowing down on a kimchi burger at the Korean-inspired Stackers food truck. And as the afternoon sun hits, head to Rain or Shine, which not only serves up ice cream at its 4th Avenue landmark, but also has a food truck farther down the avenue; we recommend the local company’s Honey Lavender and Coffee Toffee—and their Salted Caramel is as legendary as, well, Joe Keithley.

Vancouver Island Brewing’s beer garden.

#3

Cool off with a cold one in the beer gardens

There are four—count ’em—beer gardens at Khats fest this year, with the best part being how loosely the event defines beer. Beyond craft concoctions at the Olé Cocktails Garden, you can also find ice-cold pours by Stanley Park Brewing and Vancouver Island Brewing. Elsewhere, the Taco Fino Garden will be serving up margaritas, while hard t will toast the festivities with—you guessed right—hard iced tea. And head to West 4th Avenue and Burrard to find the Wine Garden, an outdoor area designed to be family-friendly, presented by Kim Crawford Wines—all within easy listening distance of the Burrard mainstage.

Frettchan Studios.

#4

Connect with culture at the Indigenous Artist Pavilion

Artisans at this year’s Indigenous showcase include Frettchan Studios—graphic artist, painter, and illustrator Chantelle Trainor-Matties’s playful fusion of Northwest Coast formline, cartoons, and contemporary art. Glittering nearby are Blue Deer’s Indigenous Huichol bead pieces, from earrings to zig-zaggy bracelets. Elsewhere, try out Cedar Hot Sauce, small-batch sauces that showcase Indigenous plants—straight outta East Van; think Blueberry Habanero or sweet but scorching Hot Honey.

Emcee Rock’N’Beau.

#5

Party with the fam at the Kids Stage

Yes, Khats fest might officially become your wee ones’ first live-concert experience. But for a party all their own, head over to Trafalgar Street, where the Kids Stage will be banging throughout the day, alongside facepainting, crafts, and other fun stuff. High-energy Rock’N’Beau takes the mike for a dance party that kicks off at 3:30 pm, and there's a new Donut Chomp Challenge care of West 4th favourite Ooh La La Donuts. Best of all, kids themselves will take the stage to show their stuff, with performances by the Sarah McLachlan School of Music and School of Rock. 

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