Ed Arnold, local author and former Peterborough Examiner Managing Editor, is launching a new book early next year called Peterborough’s First Rock and Rollers, Back When We Were Young. As part of the launch, musicians of the 1960s era who brought rock and roll to Peterborough are having a unique reunion on Saturday, February 14, 2015 (Valentine’s Day!) at the Trentwinds beginning at 7 p.m.

Peterborough's pioneer rock stars will be entertaining fans that night with rock and blues songs from the 1960s to launch Ed's 331-page book, of which only 500 copies are being printed of this limited run. Inside the book will be a commemorative CD produced and written by long time songwriter Cyril Rawson.

More than 20 musicians will be at the launch party in February, including some members of Peterborough’s first rock and roll band The Sonics, as well as Mike McCutcheon, Ian Hully, Buzz Thompson, Bobby Watson, Tom and Dan Kingdom, Dan McCarthy, Al Black, Barry Haggarty, Jim Peters, Vern Hope, Neil Mattice, Don Skuce, Rico Fama, Don McCallum, John Robertson, Bob Robertson and Dick Keating from bands such as the Continentals, Fugitives, Capris, Left Turn, Jaguars and the Hangmen.

A special patron of the event is Don Tapscott, Trent University’s chancellor—and a former Peterborough Sixties rock and roller.

Advance tickets are $40 per couple, with each couple getting a copy of Arnold’s book and Rawson’s CD. Single tickets are $25. Group tickets of 10 or more can be obtained by emailing edarnold@cogeco.ca. Tickets are available at the A&W restaurants on Lansdowne Street West and Chemong Road; Momma’s Restaurant on Monaghan Road, south of Kenner; or Long and McQuade Musical Instruments on Aylmer Street.

The book will include 17 pages of photographs, and we got a sneak peek at some included (see below and above)....