This letter was submitted to the 含羞草研究社 by a local musician who wishes to remain anonymous.

To Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 music fans:

Frankly, I含羞草研究社檓 not sure how to start this. I含羞草研究社檓 sad, and angry, and disappointed, and have utterly lost hope in Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 cultural identity.

I含羞草研究社檓 sure by now that many of you may have heard that one of Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 cultural touchstones, Fernando含羞草研究社檚 Pub, has announced that it is shutting down at the end of the month. It含羞草研究社檚 another in a growing list of music venues in the city that have been struggling pre-and-post pandemic, though 含羞草研究社減ost-pandemic含羞草研究社� is yet to be seen. This served as home for art for a decade. I am deeply distressed at what is happening to our arts culture in Kelowna.

I would like to put it to you, citizens of Kelowna, that your artists and the homes for your artists are in desperate need of you right now, and although they may not say as much 含羞草研究社� they 含羞草研究社� WE 含羞草研究社� need you right now.

I含羞草研究社檒l keep this as short as I can.

In the ten short years that I have called this town my home, I have watched the music and art scene grow in leaps and bounds, and in the last two, I have watched it shrink to something smaller than it was when I had arrived. I don含羞草研究社檛 mean the artists, for there are roughly the same amount of artists as there always have been. The Okanagan has been a landing pad for artists from all over the world. That含羞草研究社檚 not the point of this 含羞草研究社� the point is that we含羞草研究社檙e watching beautiful, important and courageous venues fall through the cracks, thus erasing the places for these artists to perform and deliver their craft.

Yes, there are 含羞草研究社渧enues含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社� but the art is always a second thought in these venues. Yes, as artists, we含羞草研究社檙e grateful that these venues exist, but they are not for the performance. The performance is secondary to the food or beer that is on offer, which is fine. That is a model that works in the low-profit-margin world of hospitality, and it is one way to do it. But it is not where many of these world-class artists belong, nor do they actively search to bring touring artists off the road and into our community.

I ask you 含羞草研究社� why are we losing all the courageous venues that boldly wave the artists含羞草研究社� banner, take chances on touring artists, highlight alternative music styles, and do it all unflinchingly in the face of a myriad of difficulties? Where have they gone in the last 3 or 4 years?

Last year there was a group of artists, managers, promoters and big-wigs in the Kelowna scene that got together to discuss the Okanagan Music Industry. A consulting firm was hired to survey music fans, artists and pros alike 含羞草研究社� and eventually results were presented. It showed a number of things, equally surprising and unsurprising. One of the things it showed was you, as a populace, 含羞草研究社渨ant to see more live shows,含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社渨ould go to more live shows in the future,含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社渨ish there were more venues in Kelowna,含羞草研究社� and 含羞草研究社渨ould attend more shows if the parking wasn含羞草研究社檛 so bad.含羞草研究社� All of this, among other things. Great information, great research 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 actually really good stuff, and anyone who含羞草研究社檚 keen on making a meaningful impact in the local community should read it.

But it all came to a head with discussions and meetings about these things, with industry professionals and experts telling big stories about how they will 含羞草研究社渃hange含羞草研究社� the industry, how they will 含羞草研究社渞evitalize含羞草研究社� the scene, and 含羞草研究社渋nject含羞草研究社� culture into this town.

Not once did I hear about what we can do to support our existing scene 含羞草研究社� artists and venues alike. Not once was there meaningful discussion on how we can support our existing venues.

You and I, dear reader, have watched venue after venue shut down in the downtown core that meant more to me than most will understand. And no one has batted an eye. These were those courageous venues that put original art at the forefront of their business plan, and have suffered as a result. No help from the city or arts groups to help keep them afloat, or in many cases 含羞草研究社� no willingness to collaborate.

The Grateful Fed was a cultural touchstone that served as an integral space for bands, artists and all types of troubadour types to hone their skills, collaborate, and commiserate. It含羞草研究社檚 gone.

Muninn含羞草研究社檚 Post was a cultural touchstone that hosted touring artists and live music ranging from free jazz to black metal. They were a safe space that served great grub at reasonable prices. It含羞草研究社檚 gone.

Milkcrate Records was a cultural touchstone that worked tirelessly hosting indoor & outdoor shows, selling records, providing rehearsal & rentable space, and providing a safe space for people from all walks of life. It含羞草研究社檚 gone.

The NAC (New Arts Collective) was a cultural touchstone that served as part artist-collective, part studio space, and part showroom for small shows. Their leading principle was always 含羞草研究社渕eaningful experiences.含羞草研究社� It含羞草研究社檚 gone.

The Habitat. A cultural touchstone that provided a much-needed all-ages space for amateurs to professionals, employed sound techs, musicians, lighting techs, and was a hub for Music BC. It含羞草研究社檚 gone.

Doc Willoughby含羞草研究社檚 used to serve up a home for punk rock, hard rock, and music that doesn含羞草研究社檛 always have a home in the Okanagan. They have put shows on hold for an indeterminate amount of time, and this author is skeptical that they含羞草研究社檙e going to be providing the home for bands like DOA in the future.

And Fernando含羞草研究社檚 Pub. The glue that held it all together. The place that this author believes was the fearless-banner-bearer of the proud Kelowna Music Scene. The home that brought touring artists off of Highway 1 and into our region, that brought well-known artists like William Prince, Terra Lightfoot and We Hunt Buffalo in. It was part of what caught the eye of BreakOut West. It provided early homes and jump-off gigs for our exports like The Wild, Yukon Blonde, and Tiger Moon, among others. Well Kelowna, as of the end of the month it含羞草研究社檚 gone.

And all we can do is talk about 含羞草研究社淣ew Venues,含羞草研究社� and make empty promises about going to shows in the future? It含羞草研究社檚 a shame. This is a loss felt by the entire music community, and our love goes to all of the passion-players that were with all of these venues, especially Fernando含羞草研究社檚.

It含羞草研究社檚 not all doom and gloom. Before I sign off, I put this to you. There are a pair of courageous music venues that are providing a home for meaningful experiences. If you want to see more shows, then this is the time to do it 含羞草研究社� and they provide a safe environment for you to do so in our currently Covid reality.

Red Bird Brewing. Shows Thursdays and Saturdays. Wanna know what shows are gonna be up there? Follow them on their socials, or follow .

The Curious. Wednesday to Friday they host dinner shows. Follow them on their socials for show updates, or follow EiKelowna.

There are talks about other venues doing live music, and there are other venues hosting cover bands all the time. But if you want artists to thrive in this region, and if you want venues to continue to exist, then it含羞草研究社檚 time now to go to a real venue that waves that banner of courage. Pay cover. Book a ticket, and heck, buy another one for a friend. Go for the show, primarily. Support someone you don含羞草研究社檛 even know. Eat the food, enjoy the drinks, take photos and take in the whole experience.

Because if you don含羞草研究社檛 含羞草研究社� no one else will, and our artists are going to move.

Anonymous

Kelowna, B.C.