Described by its founder, Nathan Holiday, as “punk opera” by “techno-anarchist slackers”, Tunnel Canary was an uncompromising experimental project whose role in Vancouver’s early punk scene has been largely overlooked.

Filmmaker Eric Lohrenz intends to change this with his documentary Tunnel Canary 1978–2008, screening at the Sweatshop (1943 East Hastings Street) on Saturday (July 19), complete with performances by a reconstituted Tunnel Canary and guests the Mutators and Flatgrey.

The gig also marks the release of a retrospective of the band’s material called Jihad on the local Rundownsun label. The film screens again at Blim (197 East 17th Avenue) next Friday (July 25), with a solo performance by Holiday.

Lohrenz told the Straight that a chance meeting with Holiday sparked his interest. “We had a conversation about this punk band he was in from the late ’70s, and since I’d never heard of it, I figured it must be nothing great.” Lohrenz checked out some samples on the Punk History Canada Web site. “I listened to it and I was, like, ‘Whoa, okay, now I’m interested.’ It just blew my mind.”

The documentary is largely assembled from Holiday’s stash of memorabilia. For the Sweatshop performance, Holiday and original bassist David Sheftel will be joined by Mya Mayhem of locals Life Against Death, who replaces “screamer” Ebra Ziron.