Over 700 people attended the Hotel California: The Original Eagles Tribute show at the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Eagles fans filled the Sanderson Centre as they settled in for a two hour concert that explored the many eras of the legendary rock band.
Started in 1986, Hotel California has performed thousands of shows across North America and the world, sharing the stage with the likes of The Doobie Bros., Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gretchen Wilson, REO Speedwagon, and many more.
Known for faithfully recreating the Eagles’ signature sound, the tribute band performed around 20 of the band’s greatest hits, prompting audience members to get up and dance or shout the appraisals throughout.
Performing with note-for-note accuracy, Hotel California got the first half the concert rolling with hits like “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “Wasted Time,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “Take it to the Limit,” “Funk #49,” “Rocky Mountain Way,” and “Life’s Been Good” which featured founding member Mike Dimoulas on the talk box.
Adding to the overall experience, several of the tribute band’s members shared anecdotes throughout the show. From the meaning of different songs to stories of searching for band members during the Eagles’ prime, the audience was treated to an entertaining glimpse into the band’s history.
During intermission, Cambridge resident Roseann Mason said it was her second time seeing the band, and that they didn’t disappoint.
“They are awesome,” she said. “They can all sing and they’re all really good… I’m having a great time. The one guy is really quirky, the one on the left (Mike Ferfolia), so I really like that. I also think it’s nice that they’re not super loud either; we’re in the fifth row and we can still talk to each other.”
When asked if she would see the band again, Mason exclaimed, “oh yes, for sure!”
Opening the second half of the show with “Get Over It,” the band kept the energy high and the audience fully engaged. They followed with the Eagles’ cover of Steve Young’s “Seven Bridges Road,” bringing all four members out to the front of the stage as drummer Gabriel Giammaria stepped away from his kit to join them.
“We’re going to do a song now that the Eagles didn’t write. It was actually written by a man named Steve Young, but the Eagles did a fantastic version of it,” said Giammaria. “You may have seen some videos of them backstage, warming up with this one singing in a circle, and it’s a lot of fun. It’s one that features all of us here on vocals, and we hope you guys enjoy it as we take you down a little Seven Bridges Road.”
As the night continued, the tribute band went on to perform “Take it Easy,” “Dirty Laundry,” “Already Gone,” “Heartache Tonight,” “Desperado,” and “Life in the Fast Lane.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be an Eagles tribute without playing the song that gave the group its own name, the iconic “Hotel California.”
With an extra long intro leading into the song by Jason Mercer, many of the audience members captured the moment on video and swayed to the music from their seats.
Overall, the show offered audiences a faithful recreation of the Eagles’ music, many of them singing their praises for Hotel California as they left the venue.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
