Who knew a banjo riff would make such a rock 'n' roll impression? Sweet City Woman, penned and plucked by the Stampeders' Rich Dodson, was voted one of the most recognizable songs of the '70s, scoring him a spot in the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in February.

"It was a good party and a great honour," says Dodson. "It was nice to hang out with guys like (fellow inductee) Leonard Cohen."

The Stampeders had a successful run on both sides of the border and on the other side of the Atlantic through the early and mid '70s before the trio of Rich Dodson on guitar, Ronnie King on bass and Kim Berly on drums went their separate ways in 1977.

"Kim got into acting, and Roddie went to Calgary and started a club band," says Dodson, adding he wanted to get into the recording side of the biz, so he went on to start Marigold Records.

The guys reunited in 1992 after getting invited to perform on CTV's now defunct Dini Petty Show. "After that we just started getting calls (to play shows)," says Dodson.

With the reunion came a new album as well.

Sure Beats Working comprises 14 new tracks recorded in Dodson's studio and released on his Marigold Records label in 1998. Since then the band's been writing in addition to touring. "We've got a lot of stuff started; we need to turn on the afterburners and get stuff done," says Dodson.

They play about 35 shows per year, according to Dodson, and just closed out the Rock the Fort festival with Bachman and Cummings in Thunder Bay, Ont. "This year we'll play from Vancouver to Gander, Nfld.," he says.

For tonight's show, the guys will mix a couple new songs in with all their old hits.

"I always like playing Winnipeg," says Dodson, "I look forward to Fred Turner (BTO) coming out, if nothing else."

The Stampeders take Central Park Stage tonight at 8:30 p.m., and the show is free with $8 admission to the Red River Ex.