It乌鸦传媒檚 somewhere between work and vacation.

That乌鸦传媒檚 the motto of Rich Dodson, guitarist and singer of Canadian icons The Stampeders who are bringing their classic, tie-dye rock anthems to Vernon April 7 and Kelowna April 8.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 hard to describe being in The Stampeders as work. We乌鸦传媒檙e very fortunate for that,乌鸦传媒� Dodson said. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 sort of what this band has always been.乌鸦传媒�

Originally known as The Rebounders, the group formed as a five-piece band in the late 乌鸦传媒�60s in Calgary before they relocated to Toronto and rebranded as The Stampeders. After the group was whittled down to it乌鸦传媒檚 core trio, they rose to international fame for their platinum single, Sweet City Woman, for which they won Juno Awards in the categories of best group, best single, best producer and best composer.

Now that they乌鸦传媒檝e reached those heights, Dodson said, it乌鸦传媒檚 time to just have fun.

乌鸦传媒淲e wanted to do a little southern B.C. tour. It乌鸦传媒檚 fun going through that spot again. It乌鸦传媒檚 a little run we乌鸦传媒檇 probably never really do,乌鸦传媒� Dodson said. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e full up on fame and just looking forward to more fun.乌鸦传媒�

The Stampeders split in 1977 after reaching wondrous heights. But, in 1992 at the Calgary Stampede, the trio brought The Stampeders back to life and have since been recognized by the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) for their lifetime achievement, been inducted into the SOCAN Songwriters Hall of Fame on five occasions and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame for Sweet City Woman.

However, instead of doing the lengthy tours of old, The Stampeders now prefer to keep their road time light.

乌鸦传媒淢aybe 25 dates a year is all we do. It乌鸦传媒檚 enough to keep it going not be done with it, to keep it fresh,乌鸦传媒� Dodson said. 乌鸦传媒淭he touring thing, I rather like. I never thought I would miss it when I left, but I did.乌鸦传媒�

Comprised of the original trio of Dodson with his signature double neck guitar, Ronnie King who tows the bass line while Kim Berly keeps the beat, The Stampeder乌鸦传媒檚 13 stop tour stretches from the Island to the Kootenays with stops at small theatres across the province.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 looking forward to the tour, and at our age, this could be our last southern B.C. tour.乌鸦传媒� Dodson said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 nice to be up front and close to the audience. The band has nothing to prove and we don乌鸦传媒檛 take it too seriously.乌鸦传媒�

However, they don乌鸦传媒檛 disregard the tunes.

乌鸦传媒淲e still play too loud. It乌鸦传媒檚 one, two, three rock n乌鸦传媒� roll,乌鸦传媒� Dodson said, adding that they bring their own light and sound people on tour. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 fun to get together with the guys again. It can be a little tiring, these barn burners, but reconnecting with the fans afterwards is a big buzz.乌鸦传媒�

And, despite significant changes to the business since The Stampeders rose to fame in the 乌鸦传媒�70s, Dodson said connecting with fans is just as easy and important as ever.

乌鸦传媒淭he internet is the big change. The internet has allowed us to reintroduce The Stampeders,乌鸦传媒� Dodson said.

Not only has the internet changed the world of music, but it has allowed Canada to become a front-runner in the business.

乌鸦传媒淣ow we have such a strong industry here (in Canada) you can be a Blue Rodeo band and not have to worry about cracking the United States,乌鸦传媒� Dodson said. 乌鸦传媒淲e just seem to have a good situation up here for talent and developing talent. Maybe because it乌鸦传媒檚 so cold in the winter we just spend a lot of time in the basement recording.乌鸦传媒�

While the industry may have evolved, Dodson said they乌鸦传媒檙e still the same old Stampeders.

乌鸦传媒淐ome check out the old guys when they乌鸦传媒檙e still jumping around, and the clock is ticking,乌鸦传媒� Dodson laughed. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e just kids. We乌鸦传媒檙e 70, but we乌鸦传媒檙e just older kids.乌鸦传媒�

The Stampeders rock the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre April 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 and are available through the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, . The Kelowna performance is slated for 7:30 p.m. at the Kelowna Community Theatre April 8. Tickets are $65 and are available through Select Your Tickets, 250-762-5050, .