CORNWALL, Ontario – The Stampeders are no strangers to Cornwall and many will be familiar with their classic rock sound.
Last playing in Aulstville Theatre four years ago, guitarist and vocalist Rich Dodson says that he best remembers playing with the Trogs in Cornwall in 1974.
The band first formed in Calgary in 1964, but soon made their way East, playing gigs along the way.
“We Partridge Familied ourselves across the country,” said Dodson. “We had to get to Toronto because that’s where the action was.”
In Toronto, the modern band line-up of Ronnie King, Rich Dodson and Kim Berly formed.
Since then, the Stampeders have kept up a high work rate and have played with some of the biggest acts of the past 40 years.
Dodson estimates that throughout the 70s, the band played about 298 dates a year and shared the stage with such names as The Beach Boys, Joe Cocker, Sunny & Sher and KISS.
Dodson contributes they staying power to their visits to small venues.
“All the time after shows I have people come up to me saying “You came and played at my high school,”” Dodson said.
Dodson said that he and the band are looking forward to returning to Cornwall.
“We’re going to do some classics and we have some new stuff and we look forward to hanging out with everyone,” he said.
