The band was having a down day, wondering if they had made the right decision of quitting their jobs to go on the road and make a name for themselves. When they pulled up to the venue of their show that night, they saw their name on the marquee and instantly their spirits were lifted. But a few things made them suspicious – the tickets to the show were only $3 and there was a pole in the middle of stage.

For some musicians, playing at a strip club could have ruined the night, but for the three ladies of the Good Lovelies it was just another story to add to their book of anecdotes.

“It ended up being really funny,” said Caroline Brooks, one of the singers in the group. “If you have a sense of humor you can end up having great time.”

And since that show they’ve played more unique venues, including the inside of a boxing ring at an art show, and a house tour, where they played in complete strangers’ living rooms. One of their upcoming shows is at a monastery for an audience of 150 monks.

The Good Lovelies, based out of Toronto, Canada, are coming to Orcas Center, April 29, 7:30 p.m., with a special event: “Burgers and Brew” from the Lower Tavern in the Madrona Room, 5:30 p.m., $15 at the door.

The Good Lovelies, featuring the talents of Brooks, Kerri Ough and Sue Passmore, create music that is part folk roots and part Western swing. They are known for their three-part vocal harmonies, clever lyrics and humorous repartee on stage. The girls play a variety of instruments including mandolin, banjo and glockenspiel, often changing who plays what instrument at each concert.

“It keeps the songs fresh for us and for the audience,” Brooks said.

Before they became a band, Brooks said they were each writing a fair amount of sad ballads, but once they all started singing together an upbeat Western swing sound just naturally poured out.

“It’s [the music] a mirror of what we are like together,” Brooks said. “We really love each other and really have a good time on tour – the music reflects that.”

But there are some melancholy tunes from the Good Lovelies, like on their newest album “Let the Rain Fall,” which Brooks said is a nice complement to lighter tones in their other songs.

Brooks said there is a tendency in the musical world to take upbeat music less seriously, but when the band witnesses other people finding joy from their music, it is an amazing feeling.

“Music has such a great power, why not use it to make people happy,” she said. “It feeds back to us as well.”

And they spread the joy not just with music, but with laughs too. Brooks describes one of her bandmates, Kerri Ough, as having great comic timing on stage. The Good Lovelies often tell funny anecdotes before breaking into song.

“She could have been a stand-up comic in another life,” said Brooks.

And it’s a good thing these gals find one another so amusing because in the last two years they have played roughly 300 shows and spent 180 days on the road.

Brooks said it does come with a price – they miss birthdays and holidays, but for up and coming musicians touring is necessary. The audience won’t come to them.

And for any show, whether in Canada or in the U.S., the band has a philosophy that people are people. But Brooks said they do have a special place in their hearts for the Pacific Northwest.

“Washington state is where we have played the most shows in the U.S.,” she said. “ It’s nice to finish our tour there, it’s very homey.”

Tickets are $25, $19 for Orcas Center members, $11 for students. For more info, visit www.orcascenter.org.