After more than 34 years in business, Gabby香蕉视频直播檚 Country Cabaret has succumbed to the mounting financial pressures of the coronavirus pandemic.
Owner Steve Gallagher, took to social media on Tuesday, May 26, to announce the permanent closure of the bar and live entertainment venue in its current location on Fraser Highway.
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A silver lining packed within that time are the memories of countless country artists who got their start performing live at the nightclub, including Dallas Smith, Chad Brownlee, Washboard Union, and Aaron Pritchett 香蕉视频直播� to name a few.
Mitch Merrett, a Langley producer, songwriter, and performer said he literally got his very first start there.
香蕉视频直播淏ack a few, well, quite a few years ago, every Wednesday was jam night and I was a regular there,香蕉视频直播� he recalled. 香蕉视频直播淚 started performing there when Aaron Pritchett was looking for a new guitar player. And we spent a good number of years as one of the regular bands.香蕉视频直播�
Merrett said he met many good friends and colleagues because of 香蕉视频直播渢hat Honky Tonk.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淪o many great memories in that bar香蕉视频直播� and a few foggy ones香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈 Merrett laughed.
Former Clayton Heights resident and country artist JoJo Mason thanked the nightclub for the array of memories.
香蕉视频直播淭o see this legendary B.C. country music staple having to close due to the hands of this virus is absolutely heartbreaking,香蕉视频直播� Mason told the Langley Advance Times. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e had the opportunity to play this stage, to be a judge for competitions, to party my face off, and even once to sing karaoke. I know our country fans will rally and follow where ever they land.香蕉视频直播�
Shawn Meehan, of the country-rock band Me and Mae, shared with the Langley Advance Times that this is certainly a sad day for the Langley country music community.
香蕉视频直播淕abby香蕉视频直播檚 was a breeding ground for up-and-coming talent. Me and Mae spent a lot of time there learning and growing,香蕉视频直播� Meehan said.
Award-winning Langley musician Karen Lee Batten recalled that she had the opportunity to both DJ and perform at Gabby香蕉视频直播檚 for more than 15 years.
香蕉视频直播淓veryone knows Gabby香蕉视频直播檚, even if country music isn香蕉视频直播檛 your favourite, and you said 香蕉视频直播業 will never go there,香蕉视频直播� you have and you did! It was a great party, and had amazing staff,香蕉视频直播� she recounted.
Gabby香蕉视频直播檚 was one of the last standing country-themed nightclubs in the the Lower Mainland that regularly featured live artists perform.
David Wills, the current president of the BC Country Music Association (BCCMA), called the lose of Gabby香蕉视频直播檚 a major hit to the B.C. country music and overall live music community.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 going to be hard to see people not doing what they do. Generations of people knew Gabby香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 going to create a big hole in Langley,香蕉视频直播� he said, referring to the bar as a community partner.
Wills noted the building itself provided a timeless kitch atmosphere that appealed to television and film productions seeking to capture a long gone feel.
香蕉视频直播淚f B.C. residents don香蕉视频直播檛 have a place to go dancing and to go out, there is going to be a longer term effect on their mental health,香蕉视频直播� Wills expressed, hoping for something to fill not only the country music void, but live entertainment as a whole in the near future.
Linda Corscadden, former president of BCCMA for 16 years, said Gabby香蕉视频直播檚 was like the bar from Cheers.
香蕉视频直播淎t any given time I could walk into that bar and be greeted by everybody I knew,香蕉视频直播� she said.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been going to Gabby香蕉视频直播檚 for 35 years, since Ron Barkwell opened it up after Peppers closed down. Never had to wait in a lineup, I香蕉视频直播檇 walk in and take my perch in Cowboy Corner,香蕉视频直播� Corscadden continued. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 where I learned to dance and it香蕉视频直播檚 where I met my ex-husband.香蕉视频直播�
Langley resident Kim Loof shared that she had met her husband at Gabby香蕉视频直播檚 in April 1994, and married him inside the actual bar in 1999 香蕉视频直播� a ceremony she claims will now remain as the only wedding to take place in its confines.
香蕉视频直播淲e planned it in two weeks and there was about 75 people there. My husband worked in the back filling beer and I was up front as a door girl,香蕉视频直播� she added. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 going to miss all my friends and family.香蕉视频直播�
Regulars and friends of Gallagher have expressed their appreciation for the owner and the hope that the beloved country cabaret will take on another form.
香蕉视频直播淪teve Gallagher and I are still very good friends, and I know how much he loved Gabby香蕉视频直播檚, live music, and everyone who came through the doors,香蕉视频直播� Merrett said. 香蕉视频直播淚f I know Steve, I wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 doubt there maybe a new Gabby香蕉视频直播檚 open up down the road. I sure hope so. Gabby香蕉视频直播檚 was a staple in the community and was a great place to hang and listen to live music.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播滳heers to Gabby香蕉视频直播檚,香蕉视频直播� Lee Batten added. 香蕉视频直播淐heers to all the staff over the years, cheers to all the wicked bands that have played that stage and the techs that made the music heard. To everyone who poured a drink, [and] most importantly to everyone who drank them, cheers!香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淪o many great memories香蕉视频直播y heart is broken香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈 Corscadden added, 香蕉视频直播渂ut I look forward to hopefully kicking up some dust on a new dance floor if Steve opens up another Gabby香蕉视频直播檚. Long Live Gabby香蕉视频直播檚 crew and family.香蕉视频直播�
The OK Corral Cabaret in Kelowna has been in the city for more than 35 years, and while has not reopened due to COVID-19, it is not expected to permanently close.
Managing partner of the OK Corral Angie Clowry said she and the Corral staff were saddened to hear of the closing of Gabby香蕉视频直播檚 Country Cabaret.
香蕉视频直播淚t was a warm atmosphere with very similar appeal to our cabaret - filled with down to earth people that enjoyed dancing, fantastic music, cold ones and each other香蕉视频直播檚 company,香蕉视频直播� she said.
As for the OK Corral she said said the bar needs immediate help finding ways to partially open with health and safety at the forefront or they will be forced into bankruptcy.
Clowry stated, the bar would adhere to social distancing, cleaning and safety protocols if it reopened.
香蕉视频直播淲e would love to open up, hire back staff, support local musicians and entertainers by hosting them in our parking lot with a food truck set up to provide food similar to pubs and restaurants,香蕉视频直播� said Clowry.
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