By Derek Martin
The Trews lit up Calgary’s Palace Theatre on February 16, 2026, as if they were meant for that stage. Walking into the venue on their Bloody Light Tour, you could feel the excitement before the first note was even played. It was one of those nights when Canadian rock felt alive and unbreakable.
That Electric Venue Feel :
Picture this: the Palace’s old-school marquee flickering outside in the chilly Calgary night, with doors open at 7 PM sharp. I found a spot near the floor as Eddy and the Dirty Boys kicked things off with their raw, gritty opener. This perfect warm-up had everyone loosening up by 8:30. The place was packed, shoulder-to-shoulder, with diehard fans in faded Trews tees sharing stories. The sound was crisp, and the lights pulsed those deep, bloody reds that fit the tour vibe.
They Came Out Swinging:
Right at 9:15, Colin MacDonald owned the stage, guitar low and fierce, diving into “Manifest.” The riff grabbed you by the throat, and suddenly everyone’s fists were up, singing along like it was their own personal anthem. No chit-chat, no fluff; they launched straight into “Tired of Waiting,” with Dave Nugent’s drums pounding like a freight train. John-Angus, on that second guitar, added magic, with melodic leads dancing around Colin’s gritty howl.
Building the Fire Mid-Set :
They eased into “So She’s Leaving” and “Carolina” next, and those moments reminded you why The Trews endure. Colin’s voice—raw, soaring, breaking just right—pulled you in, while touring bassist Jack Sypniewski held it all down tightly. “Sing Your Heart Out” turned into a massive crowd takeover; Colin pointed the mic and stepped back, and the Palace erupted. Then “The Breakdown” hit like a punch, with John-Angus shredding solos that moved from bluesy to full fire. It flowed straight into “Hope & Ruin,” with a medley of “Paranoid Freak” into Deep Purple’s “Hush” sneaking in as a delightful surprise. Pure joy, with gasps, laughs, and air guitars everywhere.
Real Talk from the Stage :
Halfway through “Ishmael & Maggie”—that falsetto still gives me chills—Colin paused for a quick story about drives across the Prairie and old Calgary spots like the Republik days. It felt personal, like he was chatting with friends.
Encore Magic and Fade-Out :
The lights dropped, tension built, then bam—an encore with “The Bloody Light,” with atmospheric keys exploding into riff chaos. It wrapped up with an epic “Not Ready to Go” jam, stretching ten minutes of traded solos between Colin and John-Angus, with confetti fluttering down around 11 PM. Hoarse cheers erupted as we poured out into the night, that post-show high lingering.
Setlist:
Manifest
Tired Of Waiting
Get A Handle On It
So She’s Leaving
Carolina
Fleeting Trust
Sing Your Heart Out
The Breakdown
Hope & Ruin
Paranoid Freak / Hush/ Hush
Ishmael & Maggie
I Wanna Play
The Bloody Light
I Can’t Stop Laughing
Don’t Get Lost In The Dark
Highway Of Heroes
Poor Ol’ Broken Hearted Me
Hold Me In Your Arms
Encore:
Endless Weekend
Not Ready to Go
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