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20 years later: Doc Willoughbys keeps the Kelowna music scene alive

Docs recently celebrated its 20th anniversary
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The Wild! performed at Doc Willoughby91裸聊视频檚 for a sold-out crowd on Oct. 26, 2019. The band credits the local pub for helping it gain exposure beyond the local music scene. (Shane Collins photo )

When it comes to live music in Kelowna, there are very few places like Doc Willoughby91裸聊视频檚 Downtown Pub.

Known locally as 91裸聊视频楧ocs,91裸聊视频 the popular pub on Bernard Avenue has spent the past two decades serving local beer, modestly priced food and perhaps most important has become the go-to spot for musical acts.

Dave Willoughby, the owner and former manager of Docs, opened the establishment 20 years ago with the vision of creating a communal space for people to hang out and listen to music, as if they were in the comfort of their own home.

Named after Dave91裸聊视频檚 grandfather, Doc Willoughby, who established a medical practice in the Central Interior back in 1920, the pub has become a staple for the music scene in Kelowna.

91裸聊视频淗e kind of represented a lot of the things that we felt were important to a strong sense of community and family. I kind of wanted Docs to be like my living room, a true neighbourhood public house, which has the look and feel of somebody91裸聊视频檚 living room,91裸聊视频 said Dave Willoughby.

In an effort to achieve the aesthetic, he worked with former co-owner Deb Berard, who happened to also be a talented interior designer, to piece together his vision.

The two visited over 40 pubs throughout the Pacific Northwest to garner ideas for what would become the vision for Docs.

Berard made Willoughby91裸聊视频檚 vision a reality but unfortunately passed away from cancer soon after the pub opened.

Then in November 1999, Docs began hosting a number of music acts.

With the intimate atmosphere and a solid sound system, the pub quickly became a popular venue to catch a show.

91裸聊视频淩ight from the get-go we had live entertainment on the weekends,91裸聊视频 Willoughby recalled.

91裸聊视频淏ands love to play at Docs because there91裸聊视频檚 so much wood, it91裸聊视频檚 a really warm cozy atmosphere and we have a really good sound system in there with a professional sound technician.91裸聊视频

Since then, Docs has hosted an array of international bands such as CJ Ramone, of The Ramones, while also giving local bands the exposure to go on to greater things.

Some of those artists include the likes of Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 The New Odds, Langley91裸聊视频檚 Gob and Vernon91裸聊视频檚 Daniel Powter, who have all respectively gone on to have prosperous music careers.

One band in particular that began honing their craft on the Docs91裸聊视频 stage is Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 The Wild!.

Nearly seven years ago the band got their start at Docs and quickly developed a local following.

More recently, after returning from a large scale European tour, The Wild! performed two sold-out shows at Docs on back-to-back nights, coming full circle to where it all began.

91裸聊视频淚t was quite crazy, some of the shows we played over in Europe were for over 15,000 people,91裸聊视频 said Dylan Kirouac, lead vocalist of The Wild!.

91裸聊视频淚nstead of coming home to Canada after that tour and doing the usual big venues, we wanted to do something completely different and go back and play every bar that we started out in.

91裸聊视频淒ocs was where we played our very first show as a band. It was really interesting to feel all that love and support from home.

91裸聊视频淒ocs was very instrumental in our early years, giving us a spot to be who we are and that led us to bigger and better things.91裸聊视频

While Kirouac and The Wild! have made a name for themselves in the rock scene, he is concerned about the lack of venues for artists to play in Kelowna, particularly after several venues closed their doors in recent years, such as Milkcrate Records and the Habitat.

Colin Carrier, Docs91裸聊视频 current manager, said he has been booking bands for the last 11 years and takes personal responsibility in keeping Kelowna a relevant city for touring musicians.

To do that, Carrier books everything from rock to punk, to rap, to DJs and even the occasional country artist.

Carrier said he believes in representing every genre of music at Docs. Even when he is approached by a band but does not have an available time slot for them to play, he still makes the effort to ensure they can share their music in Kelowna elsewhere.

91裸聊视频淲e have a cool Kelowna music community going on, where even if I can91裸聊视频檛 accommodate a band I will reach out to Dunnenzies or Fernando91裸聊视频檚 and they will usually take them on,91裸聊视频 said Carrier.

91裸聊视频淜elowna is on the touring circuit and someone needs to accommodate these bands so they can continue making music and inspire others to do the same.91裸聊视频

Looking forward to the next 20 years, Docs is hoping to make some aesthetic changes to open the place up and increase capacity.

Both Willoughby and Carrier have considered the idea of moving the kitchen upstairs and moving the stage to a high-rise location.

Docs will also be changing musically to reflecting changing tastes in music by booking acts that reflect Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 music interests.

While there may be a few changes on the horizon, Carrier said seeing people enjoy the venue is what keeps his passion alive.

91裸聊视频淧eople come up and thank me all the time and that91裸聊视频檚 the best feeling. Seeing the stairwell full and the dance floor packed with people makes me super stoked.

91裸聊视频淛ust knowing that I91裸聊视频檓 a part of that is awesome.91裸聊视频





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