At first glance, Ducky’s is as unassuming as the woman sipping her Moosehead at the bar. It’s long, narrow and grungy, but for singer-songwriter Julie Doiron, that’s part of the appeal.

“I’ve always liked it because it’s pretty mellow, it’s not a very intimidating place to go to and you’ll always run into someone you know,” she says.

It’s hard to imagine Doiron being intimidated. The former bassist of Eric’s Trip—the pioneering Moncton-based band that rocked the country from 1990 to 1996—has since gone solo, miraculously releasing nearly a dozen albums while raising three kids. She won a Juno Award in 2000, was nominated for a Polaris Prize in 2007 and in March released her latest album, I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day.

Her blue eyes dancing enthusiastically, she talks about the reincarnation of her record label, Sappy Records, the creation of Sappy Fest—Sackville’s four-year-old annual indie music festival taking place next month—and how, every once in a while, she likes to take over Ducky’s tiny dance floor.

“There’s a lot of laughing, a lot of foosball and the occasional dancing,” she says.

Ducky’s is open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

DOOR

“The summertime is pretty mellow, but during the school year, Thursday night is really busy. That’s when Sackville has Film Society Night. When that’s done, everyone heads up to Ducky’s.”

DÉCOR

“They could work on that. It’d be nice to repaint it somehow. They’re going for an Irish pub kind of vibe. A lot of wood, your average beer paraphernalia on the walls, some mirrors. There are some nice plaid curtains.”

DRINK

“My favourite drink right now is wine, but my favourite beer is Moosehead Pale Ale. It’s a New Brunswick brewery and the Pale Ale is what my grandfather used to drink.”

DISH

“I live as a vegan, but if I’ve been at Ducky’s a little too long, and I’m really, really hungry, and it’s late and I feel like I’d be better off to eat than not, I have had a pickled egg—and they’re really quite good.”

DRESS

“We get a fairly hip, small-town crowd. It’s relaxed, but I’ve never seen anyone in their pajamas. Actually, this one bartender used to show up in her plaid pajama pants when she was doing her laundry. Not to work, but in the daytime.”