Francis Arevalo is a Filipino-Canadian East Vancouver-born-and-based emcee and spoken word poet who is equal parts hype and heart. From the intersection of his Filipino heritage, knack for language, and lifelong love for hip-hop, each song is both fuel and fire to keep you going and keep you company, day in and day out. His performances are energizing, empowering, emotive, and memorable, from living rooms to festival stages. Having developed in the local poetry slam scene as a teenager, the common thread throughout his expansive discography is his personal storytelling, sharp lyricism, and deliberate delivery, refined over the years. His long-awaited album, Home, Grown, releases in summer 2026. 

Batty Banks is the unapologetic, unhindered, and unhinged drag tornado you never knew you needed. Daylighting as an animal rights advocate, vegan, and queer ecologist, this drag queen attempts to blend the worlds of wildlife, science, and fashion to create unique experiences where people can learn and let loose. This queen continues to slide, slip stunt, and uno reverse flip across stages all over the country, and she is excited to bring her chaos to a stage near you. This powerhouse Brazilian and Jamaican drag artist is always ready to put on a show so buckle up for the wild ride that is Batty Banks!

DJ CHIP$ is a Canadian-born Filipina who is a nurse by day and DJ by night. She has gained several residencies and exponentially expanded her music (top 40s, country, dance, reggae, pop, bhangra, and more) by frequently playing at popular events, clubs, cafes, hotels, and restaurants around the Lower Mainland. Some of her favourite and most notable DJ gigs include playing Sephora’s 100th store celebration, events for Vancouver production companies such as MRG, Blackout Comedy shows during the 2022–2024 Just for Laughs Festival, and events for DowntownVan and Cadillac Fairview. She has also opened for Dirty Loops and Down with Webster at the Commodore!

Kathleen Zaragosa has been a music performer since first finding her voice in front of audiences at the age of 4. From singing in local competition circuits to learning the ropes of live production through UBC’s Blank Vinyl Project and artist management, she has expanded her craft to support Vancouver’s live music scene on and offstage. She credits her love of music with leading her to pursue language research. She also works as a community engagement specialist and recently completed a Master’s degree at OISE exploring Philippine heritage language education in Canada. 

The Thunderbird Marching Band embodies the spirit of music and student life. Founded in 2012, the band is talented, passionate, and growing. Performing regularly at campus events and throughout the Vancouver region, the Thunderbird Marching Band makes great efforts to spread school spirit through uplifting music. The band is proud to be the only university-level marching band in Western Canada.

UBC Cheer is a competitive cheerleading program based at the University of British Columbia. This high-performance program represents the university at a national level, and supports other UBC athletes at a variety of athletic events.

Eh? Cappella is one of UBC’s competitive a cappella groups and is excited to perform at Nest Fest this year! As competitors in the International Championships for Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), the group has amassed a range of accolades for their dynamic and energetic performances. This year, Eh? Cappella became the first Canadian team from the West Region to compete at finals, placing within the top 10 out of over 400 groups from around the world. Combining 18 voices with contemporary vocal arrangements, Eh? Cappella is thrilled to share their music with the UBC community.