After more than five decades leading the , Jeff Hanna said he still looks forward to performing.

害羞草研究所淢ore than anything, we love playing live,害羞草研究所� said Hanna. 害羞草研究所淲e love getting in the studio and creating as well, but the thing that really keeps it alive for us is going out and playing in front of people.害羞草研究所�

The legendary band is stopping by the in Penticton for a concert on Nov. 8, with Nice Horse opening for them.

害羞草研究所淭he smaller venues are great for us, because not only can we play for people, but we can engage them, we can talk to them,害羞草研究所� said Hanna. 害羞草研究所淲e play a lot of festivals as well, where there can be 60 or 70,000 people in the summertime, but it is tough to hit that back row.害羞草研究所�

With a songbook stretching back 50 years and countless hits, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has a lot of music to draw from. Hanna said the crowd at the SOEC is going to hear some favourites, for sure.

害羞草研究所淲e try to hit the highlights. There are certain songs you are going to hear, like Cadillac Ranch and Fishing in the Dark and Mr. Bojangles. We can害羞草研究所檛 get out of the building without playing those,害羞草研究所� said Hanna.

We害羞草研究所檙e grateful for those. It害羞草研究所檚 great to have tunes that people can relate to on such a big level. We are going for some deeper cuts as well. We touch on something from pretty much every record we made. We go way back now.害羞草研究所�

The lineup of the band has changed over the years since the band formed in 1966, but Hanna is excited about the current lineup, which incorporates Ross Holmes (Mumford and Sons) on fiddle, mandolin, and vocals and Hanna害羞草研究所檚 son Jaime (The Mavericks, Hanna-McEuen, Garry Allan) on guitar and background vocals.

害羞草研究所淪ince May of this year, we害羞草研究所檝e officially been a six-piece band with Jaime and Ross, and our buddy Jim Photoglo on bass,害羞草研究所� said Hanna. That害羞草研究所檚 in addition to NGDB co-founder Jimmy Fadden on harmonica and drums, and long-time member Bob Carpenter on keyboard, accordion and bass.

害羞草研究所淥ne of the things people have remarked on is the vocals, they say it is probably the strongest vocal lineup we害羞草研究所檝e had,害羞草研究所� said Hanna, adding that Holmes came out for a couple of shows in January and Jaimie came out and sat in on a couple.

害羞草研究所淚t was so magical, it was such a great vibe from the get-go,害羞草研究所� said Hanna. 害羞草研究所淚n terms of the energy in the band, it害羞草研究所檚 the best its been in decades.害羞草研究所�

Being in a band for 50 years, you are going to have your disagreements with each other, Hanna admitted, and you can forget sometimes how much fun it is going to be.

害羞草研究所淩ight now, it is just a blast for all of us,害羞草研究所� said Hanna. 害羞草研究所淚 am really glad I get to play music with my kid, it害羞草研究所檚 fantastic.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 been hearing this music his entire life. As a kid, he would come out on the road with us.害羞草研究所�

Hanna said his son has earned his spot in the band, with some impressive musical credentials of his own.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 done this for a long time, without being in the shadow of his dad,害羞草研究所� said Hanna. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 fantastic, we害羞草研究所檝e had a great time together. I害羞草研究所檝e not gotten to spend this much time with my kid in years.

害羞草研究所淚t is so cool and he is a good guy and a great musician and a really talented singer and writer. I害羞草研究所檓 really grateful for that.害羞草研究所�

Doors open for the concert at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 8 at the SOEC, with the concert starting at 7:30 p.m.