Legendary rock band Nazareth was the latest prominent group to appear in Estevan, as they performed at the Orpheum Theatre on July 8 in front of a capacity crowd of several hundred people.

Lead vocalist Dan McCafferty, bass guitarist Pete Agnew, lead guitarist Jimmy Murrison and drummer Lee Agnew performed some of the Scottish band's best-known hits, including “Love Hurts,” which gained No. 1 status in 1975.

McCafferty, who along with Pete Agnew founded a band back in 1969 that would eventually become known as Nazareth, said continuity has been an important part of Nazareth's success. McCafferty and Pete Agnew have been playing together for over 40 years. Murrison joined the band in 1994, and Lee Agnew, who is Pete's son, came on board in 1999.

“They're good colleagues to have, and good friends,” said McCafferty.

Nazareth is still actively recording and touring, McCafferty said. They perform about 180 to 200 times a year. Estevan's concert was part of a Canadian tour in July and August that will take them across the country. Once they are finished, Nazareth will be off to eastern European countries like Russia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

Sometimes they play in venues like the Orpheum Theatre. Other times they are in larger settings, performing in front of thousands of fans.

McCafferty said he loves the intimacy of venues such as the Orpheum.

“You can see everybody,” said McCafferty. “Some of the larger venues, it's like a void.”

“Love Hurts” and “This Flight Tonight” are still the songs that people enjoy the most in Canada, McCafferty said.

“But we've been going for so long now, and we have made a lot of records, so we have a lot of music to play,” said McCafferty. “It's good to have that kind of a repertoire.”

Nazareth is working on a new album, McCafferty said, which will be the 39th album in the band's history. He expects that it will be released in 2011.

Nazareth's show at the Orpheum won't be their only one in southeast Saskatchewan in July. They will be at the Bear Claw Casino, located north of Carlyle, on July 29.