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Released March 20, 2025
The Strangers – Surfin’ In The Sault, Vol. 1
Canada’s Long-Lost Instrumental Surf Rockers (1964–1965)
Formed in 1964, The Strangers were Northern Ontario’s premier instrumental surf-rock trio, influenced by The Ventures and The Shadows. Originally consisting of Bruce MacGregor (guitar), Bob Coulombe (guitar), and Jerry Siegfried (bass), they soon added Dave Coulombe (drums), rounding out a tight, dynamic quartet.
Their early gigs included playing Atikokan Hall in 1964, and from there, they hit the Northern Ontario circuit, performing at community halls, high school dances, and local venues. Known for their surf-rock grooves, razor-sharp guitar work, and driving rhythms, The Strangers quickly earned a reputation as a must-see live act in the region.
In one epic basement session, the band recorded over 100 instrumental tracks live-to-tape using an Ampex reel-to-reel recorder, with microphones hung from rafters to capture every raw, reverb-soaked note.
“We recorded about 120 songs — no second takes, just ran through the entire setlist,” recalls Bruce MacGregor.
Surfin’ in the Sault, Vol. 1 marks the first-ever release of these long-lost recordings, offering a vintage sonic snapshot of 1960s Canadian surf rock at its finest. This is Volume 1 of 4 or 5, part of a multi-volume archival series, exclusively available at citizenfreak.com.
For fans of The Ventures, The Shadows, The Surfaris, and collectors of rare 60s instrumental gems, The Strangers are a thrilling and essential discovery.
-Robert Williston
Bruce MacGregor: rhythm guitar, lead guitar
Bob Coulombe: lead guitar
Jerry Siegfried: bass guitar
Dave Coulombe: drums
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