Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Whistler’s favourite farmers

Behind the scenes with the Hairfarmers
1501hairfarmers
Hairy Deal Whistler's legendary duo, the Hairfarmers, (aka Doug Craig and Greg Reamsbottom), give one of their stellar live performances.

Topping the Favourite Musician/Band category in Pique Newsmagazine’s Best of Whistler poll again in 2007 were the Hairfarmers — Guitar Doug Craig and Grateful Greg Reamsbottom.

But the duo’s domination of the category isn’t just in their No. 1 ranking. Greg’s other band, Whole Lotta Led, finished second in the voting and Doug, as a solo performer, finished third.

Everyone knows the Hairfarmers on stage, but who are these guys off stage? Pique’s Nicole Fitzgerald found out.

Pique: Where did the Hairfarmers name come from?

Doug: We were coming back from a gig in Greg’s old Ramcharger. I used to wear this huge, huge wooly sweater, it was trapping a lot of hair in its fibres. We decided right there that was the perfect name.

Greg: That’s the way it happened… not sure who said it first, but we knew right then that was what we’d call ourselves.

Pique: How did the two of you meet?

Doug: Playing a mountaineer’s wedding in Birken, at Birkenhead Lake. The band I used to play with was the Wild Dogs of Wedgemont — booked from 7 to 12 a.m. — and Greg’s band (Greg and Greg, which is Grateful Greg nd G Willy) was 12-7 a.m. They don’t make weddings like that anymore.

Greg: Amazing night… way too much fun… jammed till the sun came up.

Pique: Who does what in putting a show together?

Doug: We both do pretty much 50 per cent of the work each, starting with bookings online, on the phone or in person. Then I bring sound gear and guitars. We decide on music collectively and share musical tastes. We get unloaded and on to the stage and source power. We both do the layout and sound check — I turn dials to rought it in and Greg goes into the audience to have a listen to the front of house.

We have a ritual that helps us get in the mood to play. We check each other's voice and condition to make sure we can play in concert pitch or change keys, there is an automatic sense when things are going right — venue, people etc...

We never use set lists so I'll start riffing or Greg will be singing a tune already. Lights are the last thing — sometimes on, most times no fancy lighting.

Greg: It's definitely a shared effort. We've played so many shows together that we both know what needs to be done. There's no hard set of rules... we both handle the management of the band, bookings, pricing, scheduling etc., and we always talk things over before making the big decisions like tour arrangements etc... I think we're a good team.

Pique: When did you arrive in Whistler and what Whistler jobs did you have before music?

Doug: April 1988. Carpenter, waiter at Umberto’s, cook at the Southside Deli and one week as a cook at Citta’, gardener.

Greg: 1999... I worked at Sabre Transport, first as a driver (18 wheelers and bigger), then in the office as dispatcher/trucking manager/driver... great people to work for. I still jump in a truck for them a couple of times a year. Being a trucker is one of those jobs that gets under your skin.

Pique: What’s a day in the life of the Hairfarmers?

Doug: Wake up, make coffee (two cups, shade grown organic in a French press), check e-mails, listen to CITR or Malaspina radio while replying, get some clothes together, (summer) ride bike to get banana bread or newspaper, (winter) eat a huge breakfast, go skiing, load in sound check, play first show, tear down, go to the gym, load in the next show, sound check, play second show, tear down, drive home, pig out, read, fall asleep.

Greg: Wake up, call the snow phone, if there’s powder get up at 7 a.m., if not back to bed till 10 a.m. Go skiing, head home for a shower and a bite to eat, check and answer e-mail and phone messages, go set up and play après, tear it down and go to the gym or home for dinner, set up and play the night show, get home and fall into bed. In the summer, substitute skiing for a Harley ride.

Pique: What are your best memories of 2007?

Doug: Played to killer crowds, many shows for the beverage company and Intrawest /Fortress. Lots of cameras, some very good press, and amazing moods and lighting were captured by top photographers including Toshi K and Richard Glass…

Greg: Todd Lawson, Andy D…

Doug: The most ever, terrific ski season in ’07. Many more sobering days than ever. The global warming stories and political story telling is a comedy; somebody please resurrect Peter Gzowski.

Fun times at Kypriaki’s — wild boar and wine.

Went heli skiing on an epic day in April in exchange for playing a show. After the season was over we hosted a theme party in May — Tarantino lives.

Played Tourism Whistler, shows in London, England. Our band did a T.V. spot in September for CTV’s Urban Rush. Played in fondue huts for lots of couples last winter, in the log hut on top of Blackcomb, played a massive wedding for Ivy league grads that wanted to jam and could really play with my band. Sold commercial ad music for the same people to run on the radio. Did some Olympic promotional gigs with questionable sound but great TV exposure.

Was featured in a documentary about Whistler. Played our first country music festival, and for Squamish their first music festival right here on the oceanfront under a full moon with the Stawamus Chief for a backdrop — that was a fun night.

Played some terrific backyard parties for the  top Whistler real estate  brokers, all backyard themes — the best was John Ryan’s.and Marika Koenig's. Sadly, our monthly house gig at Bimini's in Vancouver didn't happen because it burnt down this spring.

We played Keri Ueberroth’s wedding in Laguna Beach, California — managed to get a cheap electric guitar from a pawn shop outside L.A. — fun tour, no soccer-mom mini van to get around.

Saw shows like Greg Keelor and the Sadies, the Mad Professor, the Tenessee Three, big shows included Pink Floyd/ Roger Waters, courtesy of  Mike — our favorite bar manager. Also the best in  reggae stars like Sly and Robbie, as well as Yellowman.

Most of all, the incredible talent of the Zappa band including Steve Vai… the weirdest show of all was a Japanese band — most probably the loudest, noisiest and hairiest show with the opening band and their wand of  destiny — a six-foot long piece of driftwood — was unsettlingly interesting.

Greg: Doug has a great list here of Best Memories... so many amazing shows, concerts, and moments... I'd just like to thank all the amazing staff, managers, sound techs, and especially the fans that come out to the shows and make it all happen... "If there's no audience, there just ain't no show."

Pique: Greg, how are things going for A Whole Lotta Led these days?

Greg: Things have never been better.

Pique: What is the next step for the band?

Greg: More touring, the summer outdoor festival circuit, bigger stages and audiences.

Pique: Highlight shows for Led?

Greg: From the summer tour... The sold out show at the civic center arena in Kimberley, 6,000 people in a hockey rink… wow! The Nelson, B.C. shows... headlining at Crankworx.

Pique: Any new Zeppelin songs you are working on these days?

Greg: We're always working on getting more songs down. Dancing Days and Houses of the Holy are a couple we will add to the set soon.

Pique: Doug, have you been to a Whole Lotta Led show? What did you think?

Doug: Yes. Live, you can’t beat ’em — all very good musicians. I’ve always been in awe of their professionalism.

Greg: I also go to Doug's solo shows, especially if a bunch of us are out on the town in the summertime, we'll ride the bikes over to the Gate and close the place down watching Doug play... it's a great show!

Pique: Doug, do you feel lonely without Greg on solo shows?

Doug: No, but it’s just like something is missing.

Pique: What do you like best about working with Greg?

Doug: He is magic. We are brothers in a sense — a bit of a psychedelic meeting. Those relationships seem to last the longest.

Pique: Greg, what do you like best about working with Doug? Greg: He's fearless, he'll play anything and is never boring to work with...keeps you on your toes.

Pique: Doug, tell me one thing people wouldn't know about Greg

Doug: He is fiercely protective of his friends and family.

Pique: Greg, tell me one thing people wouldn't know about Doug

Greg: He is very well informed and aware of world politics.

Pique: Greg, who would you vote for as best musician in Whistler and why?

Greg: I have to say I'd vote for any of the guys I play with, Doug, The Zep band: Phil, Tommy and Mike... I'm lucky to play with all of them... otherwise... G Willy, the man has a passion for music.

Pique: Doug, who would you vote as best musician in Whistler?

Doug: Cameron Chu — a pro all the way. He performs, reads, plays, feels jazz and all forms, Also knows  everybody.