Hey Romeo is 'searchin' for you' to be in the audience as they open for Deric Ruttan on Monday.
The Edmonton-based country band's show at the North Peace Cultural Centre is a sneak peek of their forthcoming album, to be released this summer.
Hey Romeo - lead vocalist Stacie Roper, Rob Shapiro on keyboards and guitarist Darren Gusnowsky - formed in 2002, but changed their name to Hey Romeo in 2005.
"This is our second album, our first came out in 2007. It won us the 2008 Canadian Country Association Top New Group of the Year which led to bigger and better things," said Shapiro.
The band has opened for such acts as Sugarland, Chely Wright, Emerson Drive, the Trews and Blue Rodeo.
When searching for a name for the group, they stumbled across one that fit instantly.
"It was an old Ramone's tune. We were just trying to find something, Rob was throwing a bunch of ideas out there and when he said it, we all liked it," said Roper.
"It was the first one that was on the radar for everybody."
The band will preview the first track - Searchin' For You - from their upcoming album.
"It is a song that we wrote with Victoria Banks who is a five-time nominated Canadian Country Music Award artist. She is a great singer, person and songwriter and we wrote it with her and had just a great experience," Roper said.
She said Hey Romeo is a little different from some other country acts.
"There are a lot of male bands like Emerson Drive and Doc Walker and that kind of thing, but we are a female lead singer group with two guys backing her up. We all sing very well so if I am having a bad night and I can't really sing, then they will take over and sing a bunch of songs."
Shapiro said what sets them apart is the combination of the three.
"What makes the band unique is the sound of the vocals, in my mind. Stacie has a really unique tone and when the three of us sing together, it is identifiable."
Longevity also separates them from some of the rest, he said.
"We have managed to stay together for eight years, that is kind of unique too."
Roper said: "That chemistry definitely comes out on stage and it is really a fun show."
All three band members are from small towns.
"It is a little bit more personal, you can get to them on a personal level," Roper explained. "I guess I feel really comfortable going to a lot of small towns."
"You get to know people right away," Shapiro said. "If they decide that they like you in a small town, they don't like you they love you. I love that."
He said of their style: "It has got a little bit of country, more country than pop. I like it because it is really pure and it is real. You can probably find something you can dance to and listen to."
Roper said Monday's show will be a change from their usual performances.
"It is going to be an acoustic show which is different for us as well. We normally travel with a five -piece band. This is going to be just the three of us."
The show starts at 7 p.m. For more information visit www.npcc.bc.ca or call 250-785-1992.
