Trooper is ready to ‘raise a little hell’ in Wallaceburg

(Trooper)

Juno-award winning Canadian rockers Trooper are set to headline the opening night of the inaugural Otter Creek Jam Fest in Wallaceburg on Friday night, August 2, 2019.

Ra McGuire, Trooper’s front man, told the Sydenham Current their band enjoys performing LIVE anywhere, but especially in small towns – like Wallaceburg.

“‘Huge Hits in Small Towns’ is a great name for a book.. or a song,” McGuire said.

“We enjoy all our shows, no matter where they are, because they’re all so different. Small town shows are more intimate and we often find (don’t tell the big cities) the people are nicer. Also, every small town seems to have a character of its own and it’s fun for us to plug into that.”

Trooper consists of McGuire, vocals; Brian Smith, guitar; Gogo, keys; Scott Brown, bass guitar; and Clayton Hill, drums.

One of the two founding members of the band, McGuire has been singing professionally since the age of 12. He’s received multiple song writing awards and a West Coast Juno for ‘Best Male Vocalist’.

In 2012, McGuire was honoured with a SOCAN National Achievement Award, which is presented to artists who have had outstanding success over the span of their song writing career.

Despite the years of experience, McGuire said he’ll still feel some eager anticipation before going on stage.

“Before a show I get the feeling that most people would interpret as nervous,” he said.

“I’ve tried to learn to see it more as anticipation. So there’s still a huge buzz building in us before we come on, but it’s more akin to excitement than fear. Also, we all still love to feel the audience as we come onto the stage.”

Having formed Trooper in the 1970’s, McGuire and the rest of the band have been through the evolution of the music scene over the years.

Specifically, with the shift in how people consume and listen to their music.

“I sold all my albums and CDs to a collector’s record store four or five years ago,” McGuire said.

“All of my music collection is on this computer. I also subscribe to Apple Music. After being a kid who used to make pilgrimages to the record store to flip through bins full of vinyl looking for the new albums that Rolling Stone Magazine had recommended, it’s pretty amazing to have just about every song ever recorded be only a click away.”

On Canada Day 2010, 35 years to the day after their first ever release – Trooper released “Hits From 10 Albums”, a retrospective that spans the entirety of their recording career.

There last original studio album ‘Ten’ was released in 1991.

You can stay up to date with the latest about the band by following them online, here:

http://www.trooper.com

http://www.facebook.com/trooperband

http://twitter.com/trooper

http://instagram.com/trooper

Tickets are available to see Trooper on Friday night in Wallaceburg.

You can purchase tickets at Taylor’s Convenience on Dufferin Avenue or online at ottercreekjamfest.com.

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