Echoes in Empty Rooms: How Venues and Artists Battle for Survival in BC’s Music Scene [Part 2]

Across British Columbia and much of Canada, the live music industry is facing unprecedented challenges. Both venue owners and musicians are adapting to a landscape where costs are rising, audiences are dwindling, and the cultural fabric that once supported live music is fraying. At the heart of this struggle are the people working hardest to keep the music playing: those who host the shows and those who take the stage.

Natasha Gainer, who runs the Overlander Pub in Williams Lake, describes a shifting reality for small-town venues.

“It’s harder to get people out for events, as people don’t have a lot of extra money for the added cost of a live event. We tend to see an older crowd for the live events and a lot younger on DJ nights. We’re finding there is less local live music in our area, and finances definitely play a role nowadays. The costs of live music are getting unreachable for small establishments to afford.”

Overlander Pub, photo courtesy of Natasha Gainer (Manager)

For Gainer, maintaining the Overlander’s reputation as a live music hub is both a point of pride and a mounting challenge. “We are the local live music facility in our area, so yes, a brand of sorts. Most bands contact me because of the history of the pub and the marketing we do. I then ask them for a preview of the music they offer to decide if it suits our model for the pub. Without a place to play, there is no option for these bands. They greatly appreciate the opportunity to get out to play. Live music would be lost without these smaller venues.”

Overlander Pub, photo courtesy of Natasha Gainer (Manager)

Overlander Pub, photo courtesy of Natasha Gainer (Manager)

On the other side of the equation, musicians like Anthony Della Croce—guitarist for the iconic Headpins and a fixture in Vancouver’s music scene for over 25 years—echo these concerns from the stage.

“It is most definitely harder to play these days, as the pool of small to medium venues has dramatically decreased. The category that has felt this the most is bars, pubs, and local restaurants. This is not the same for big-budget name act shows in arenas and stadiums. These top-tier bands seem to be thriving, and ticket prices are incredibly high. However, they do provide extraordinary production at a cost.”

Anthony Della Croce, photo by J&J Photography

Della Croce points to rising costs, shifting audience habits, and new forms of entertainment as major forces reshaping the industry. “Rising costs make it difficult to sustain a proper budget for supporting live music; aging audiences are slowing down and staying home, and newer forms of entertainment, including computers and smartphones, are pulling attention away.”

Despite this, both Gainer and Della Croce stress the importance of community and adaptability. For Gainer, offering a stage for local artists is essential to the region’s culture. For Della Croce, surviving as a musician means preparing for change, supplementing income with other trades, and holding onto optimism: “I do believe the core music and heartbeat of the human race will always want to celebrate with live music.”

As venues struggle and artists adapt, the future of live music in British Columbia remains uncertain—but not without hope, as long as audiences and advocates remain.

Anthony Della Croce, photo by J&J Photography