Doc Walker headling grandstand

It’ll be a country Saturday night to wrap-up entertainment at the summer fair this week as Doc Walker takes to the Painted Hand Casino Main Stage.

The Manitoba-based country band has been a force in the genre for years.

“Chris, (Thorsteinson), started the band in 1991 when a band was needed to play his family reunion,” said band mate Dave Wasyliw. “I joined in December 1994. Chris and I first played in a band together in 1987 (when we were 12) but neither of us sang back then.”

So what has kept Doc Walker relevant for a quarter of a century?

“We never play the same show, or record the same album twice,” offered Wasyliw. “Resting on past laurels will be the downfall of any band. It becomes stale, and a grind. You end up forgetting every reason you wanted to be in a band in the first place. We feel we have a lot more to say, and we are saying it a lot clearer. It still feels like we are just getting started.”

Keeping it fresh might be a result of diverse musical interests.

“We have many influences that cross many genres,” said Wasyliw. “As a kid I liked Bob Seger, AC/DC, The Beatles, heavy metal to classical! Chris liked Waylon Jennings, Randy Travis, and Restless Heart. We both loved The Eagles who have played a major role in influencing this band. We play prairie flavoured country-rock.”

Wasyliw and Thorsteinson are the duo that pens the music for Doc Walker.

“Chris and I do most of the writing. We come up with ideas independently, then work together on the ones that have potential,” said Wasyliw.

“Getting away is key. There is a bed and breakfast north of Nashville, Chris’ cabin on Lake Manitoba, or at my writing office in downtown Winnipeg.”

Once away from the everyday the duo lets the songs develop as naturally as possible.

“We have learned how to be patient with the process,” said Wasyliw. “We used to write over a hundred songs for each album (in a short period of time). One time we wrote 130 songs in two months. All of them were unusable. Some were great ideas, but they all felt rushed.

“Now we write maybe 15 songs, and we take our time.

“We have also devised a process so we can weed through the garbage to find the gems very efficiently.”

So what does the band look at as Doc Walker’s best?

“There are songs like ‘Beautiful Life’ that stayed in the top ten for 14-weeks straight,” said Wasyliw. “The royalty cheques are pretty dang awesome too! Very proud of that one.

“But there are so many that will never be on radio. Echo Road, Go, Just Fine, Get Back On My Horse and they probably never will, but they are some of the best songs we have ever written.

“They are fan favourites and we feel they are just as important as the radio hits. The royalties are a fraction of a fraction of the radio hits, but the pride we get from writing these makes up for it.”

But, when it comes to a complete disk, Wasyliw pointed to their latest as special.

“Our newest album, ‘Weathervane’, is our best -- hands down,” he offered. “I don’t just say that because it is new. My favourite was our ‘Go’ album (2009) until now. ‘Weathervane’ is the album we have always wanted to make. Front to back it flows nicely, and there is absolutely no room for filler.”

Fans will hear old favourites and the latest material at 9 p.m. Saturday.

“Looking forward to playing in Yorkton,” said Wasyliw. “We haven’t been there in a while, so we have a whole new set of surprises for you.”