They’re going to be in Port Moody for a good time, but definitely not a long time.
Canadian Music Hall of Famers Trooper will be the headline act for the city’s Golden Spike Days festival at Rocky Point Park on June 30.
It will be the fourth time the band, that’s produced hits like “Raise a Little Hell,” “The Boys in the Bright White Sports Car” and “Two for the Show,” has performed at Port Moody’s annual celebration of its heritage as the terminus of Canada’s first national railway line. The rockers also played at Golden Spike Days in 2017, 2006 and 2004.
That may be a bit of a shock for Trooper’s founding frontman, Ramon “Ra” McGuire, who recalled a bit of a faux pas at the band’s debut appearance in Port Moody when the Tri-City News caught up with him prior to the band's 2017 show.
“In 2004, we caused a bit of a stir when I failed to remember that the show was all-ages and I forgot to delete a particular expletive,” he recalled, adding apologies ensued and the group was back two years later.
McGuire and Trooper’s fellow founder, Brian Smith, retired in 2021.
But a new generation of musicians have picked up the band’s rockin’ mantle. They include lead singer and guitarist Paul Laine, guitarists Steve Crane and Scott Brown, drummer Clayton Hill and keyboard player Gogo, who’s been with the band since 1995.
Trooper was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2023. It also earned a place on Canada’s Walk of Fame the same year.
The band produced 10 studio albums and its collection of greatest hits, Hot Shots, went platinum six times.
Its show at Golden Spike Days begins at 8:30 p.m.
The headlining concert is being held a day earlier than its traditional Canada Day date after a request in January from the Golden Spike Days Society it be moved to accommodate an evening performance. Organizers said with the festival’s final day falling on July 1, it has to wrap earlier to allow the site to be packed up.
“Presenting the headlining performer the evening before allows the band to perform later in the evening which generally draws a much larger crowd,” said a memo presented to council in January, adding it will also allow the band to put on a better light show.
“Overall, an evening performance allows for a bigger impact for the community and the festival itself."
- with a file from Janis Cleugh, Tri-City News
