The Lily Dippers, a Vancouver-based alternative rock outfit formed in late 2019, have quickly established themselves as fixtures in the city’s vibrant indie scene through their energetic and playful live performances. Led by songwriter Brooks Garrett on vocals and guitar, alongside Shaughn Smith (percussion), Mack Wegenast (piano), and Michael Elder (bass), the quartet reached a significant milestone in 2023 when they secured an Artist Development grant from FACTOR Canada. This funding enabled them to complete their debut album “Immobilized” at Vancouver’s Park Sound Studios, which was released on November 2, 2024, following a strategic rollout of five singles. Building on this success, the band has already completed most of a new EP slated for release later this year and has begun collaboration with local folk artist Cocolarosa. With a packed schedule of upcoming shows and fresh material in the pipeline, The Lily Dippers appear poised to capitalize on their growing momentum in the regional music scene.
Name:
The Lily Dippers
Genre:
Alternative Rock, Surf Rock, Blues Rock, Indie Rock.
Founded:
2019
# of Albums:
1
Latest Album:
Immobilized (released Nov 2, 2024)
Latest Single:
Only My Bones (feat. Victoria Carbol)
Latest Video:
Favourite musician growing up:
My personal favourite musician growing up was always Jack White. I loved how he was never afraid to try different musical styles and find ways to express himself. He plays with such high energy that creates such an exciting environment. Every time I have ever seen him live in concert or recorded, I just get goosebumps with how passionate his playing is. It was always such an inspiration for me.
Favourite musician now:
My favourite musician right now might still be Jack White with his newest album No Name, though recently I’ve been a huge fan of Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys. I’ve been very interested in his solo career as well as his other group, The Arcs. He has also produced some albums that I’ve spent a lot of time listening to, such as Call Me Pretty by Cage The Elephant and Pushing Against A Stone by Valerie June.
Guilty pleasure song:
Toxic – Britney Spears. It’s got such a cool little guitar riff in there that gets me every time!
Live show ritual:
Before the last few shows we’ve played in downtown Vancouver, we’ve have gotten into a habit of finding the greasiest and most delicious pizza around. It’s not always something that makes us feel the best, but it sure helps us bond and have a fun time.
Favourite local musician:
There are a few artists who always really impress me. Probably my favourite right now has to be a solo songwriter, Cocolarosa. His lyricism is one of the most interesting of the people around the city right now; it really draws you into the stories that he weaves.
EP or LP?
I have always been partial to full albums. One of the reasons for me is that sometimes an artist is able to express themselves in a larger way, as opposed to an EP where you might get 3-5 songs. At the end of the day, it’s about the quality of the songs themselves, but I really like being able to get a nice collection of songs with a general theme.
Early bird or night owl?
Definitely a night owl, which is probably why I’m less of an early bird. Though anything is possible with a strong cup of coffee.
Road or studio?
As we’ve never really toured before, I guess I would have to say being in a studio is my preferred option! A couple years ago we received one of the FACTOR Canada grants, which pushed us into starting our first album, so we were able to get a lot of experience in that environment. It was really eye-opening to see how the process from start to finish goes.
Any shows or albums coming up?
As long as you follow our socials, it should be easy to see where we will be next. As for music releases, we don’t have an official date for when our next single will drop, but it should be within the next few months as we lead up to our new EP.
Where can we follow you?
Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
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Rapid Fire Local Questions:
What is your favourite local restaurant?
Because I grew up in White Rock, I have always had an affinity for the German restaurant called Ulis. I’ve enjoyed many Oktoberfest parties there over the years and think that they’ve got the best food and best location around.
What is your favourite street in your city and why?
Always enjoyed being a young rascal partying along Granville Street in Vancouver. I’ve spent so many nights going to shows downtown along that street as well that I’ve grown to really enjoy spending time around there.
What is your favourite park in your city and why?
One of my favourite parks to go to would have to be the Campbell Valley Regional Park in South Langley. It has such a great assortment of trails and interesting stops that every time you are there, you can take a different route and have a different experience. You can go there and choose your own adventure.
What is your favourite music venue in your city?
One of my favourite venues to see an artist play has always been the Commodore. It’s such a cool spot with a fun dance floor to jump around on. The Fox Cabaret has been a favourite of mine, where I’ve seen some of my favourite touring musicians and local artists play. Every time that we have been able to play that spot, it’s been very sentimental for me after having seen so many of my favourite artists perform there.
What is your favourite music store in your city?
My favourite music store around has probably been Tapestry Music out in White Rock. Always nice to support local businesses and get a different experience than the big brick stores like L&M and Tom Lee. In the past, there used to be another music shop called Surfside Music, where most of the gear I use in The Lily Dippers was purchased from back in the day. I felt like an addict as I would wander there almost daily to dream and spend money I did not really have at the time.
