NORWICH – The New Riders of the Purple Sage are returning once again to Chenango County, taking to the East Park stage at 7 p.m. Thursday for the next-to-last Chenango Blues Association Summer Concert Series performance of the year.

It is, said Blues Association President Eric Larsen, the iconic group’s fourth performance in the area since 2009, when they headlined the Chenango County Fair. The New Riders returned again in 2010 and 2011, performing in West Park and at the Chenango County Fairgrounds, respectively.

According to Larsen, the reason for the four-year string of performances is really quite simple: the members of the band love the reception they receive here in Chenango County and have since they first arrived.

“They really love coming here and they approach us every year,” added Larsen. “The first show they did here ... they enjoyed it a ton. People come long distances to see them and they always put on a great show.”

Originally formed by Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia – playing pedal steel – and John Dawson in 1969, a revitalized version of the New Riders of the Purple Sage hit the road once again in 2006, led by original member David Nelson and long-time contributor Buddy Cage. In 2009, the band released “Where I Come From” (Woodstock Records), its first studio album in two decades.