Exhibition Lands Racetrack – Edmonton, AB | July 12, 2025
By Yuri Woodfall | Photojournalist, Soundcheck Entertainment
Subtitle: Coast-to-Coast CanRock, Grunge Legends, and Nerd Rock Glory
With Day 1’s growing pains smoothed out, Day 2 at Rockin’ Thunder felt like a festival in full stride. The sun was out, the vibe was easy, and the energy from the crowd? Electric. Fans poured into the Exhibition Lands Racetrack early, ready to rep their flannel, sing their hearts out, and bask in a stacked lineup that spanned Canadian rock icons and alt-rock royalty. General admission for next year? Already sold out—and you could feel why.
🇨🇦 Default – Nostalgia Hits Just Right
Default wasted no time kicking the day into gear, opening their set with pure early-2000s nostalgia and that unmistakable voice of Dallas Smith.
And when they did play “Wasting My Time”? Total eruption. The field turned into a sing-along chorus of throwback bliss. Default may have started the day, but they brought headliner-level love from the crowd.
⚓ The Trews – East Coast Swagger
The Trews hit the stage repping Nova Scotia hard—and they came out swinging with a one-two punch of “Tired of Waiting” and “Not Ready to Go”. You could almost hear the east coast accents in the guitar riffs.
Their chemistry was tight, their setlist was stacked, and every big tune landed like a long-lost friend crashing the party. They reminded everyone that Canadian rock still has serious bite.
🍁 Sam Roberts Band – Smooth Like Maple Syrup
Sam Roberts Band brought a different flavour—a smooth, groove-heavy vibe that leaned into the heart of Canadiana. While there wasn’t much stage movement, the music didn’t need it.
Their set was a slow burn that glowed with warmth, perfect for late afternoon sun and a beer in hand. A welcome breath before the storm that was about to come.
🌑 Stone Temple Pilots – Grunge Gods Return
Stone Temple Pilots didn’t just take the stage—they owned it. Vocalist Jeff Gutt delivered with absolute confidence, honoring the band’s legacy while making the performance entirely his own.
The DeLeo brothers were locked in, cool as ever, delivering those timeless riffs with such ease it was like they never stopped. This set was a masterclass in rock legacy preservation.
👓 Weezer – Undone and Unforgettable
As the sun dipped and the stage lights took over, Weezer emerged to a crowd already buzzing. Fans had clearly come for this moment—and the band delivered.
They opened with a blast—“Hash Pipe” and “My Name Is Jonas” set the tone early. Later in the set, the crowd erupted for “Undone – The Sweater Song”, proving that no matter how much time passes, these nerd rock kings still hit like it’s 1994.
🧠 Final Thoughts
If Day 1 was a celebration of legacy, Day 2 was a victory lap for alt-rock, CanRock, and every festivalgoer who’s ever screamed lyrics under a prairie sky. From Dallas Smith’s heartfelt return, to The Trews’ thunderous hooks, to STP’s grunge gold and Weezer’s bucket-list brilliance, the day was stacked front to back.
Rockin’ Thunder didn’t just prove it belongs on the summer festival map—it shouted it through a wall of amps and guitars. And once again, this photographer? Still grinning. Still deaf. Still ready for next year.
