By Yuri Woodfall, Western Lead Photojournalist – Sound Check Entertainment
Rockin’ Thunder’s return to the Edmonton Exhibition Lands Racetrack didn’t begin with roaring guitars or cheering fans – it began with the rumble of thunder overhead.
Mother Nature had other plans for the opening day of Alberta’s newest rock festival, as severe weather forced organizers to delay festivities by approximately 90 minutes due to heavy rain, lightning, and thunder moving through the area. While it wasn’t the start that organizers, artists, or thousands of eager fans had envisioned, the delay ultimately became little more than a footnote in what turned into a memorable day celebrating Canadian rock.
The moment the skies cleared and the all-clear was given, anticipation that had been building for an hour and a half finally exploded into life. Fans streamed toward the stage with renewed excitement, thankful that the festival would go ahead despite the storm. This year’s host was once again the ageless and highly enthusiastic former MuchMusic VJ, Rick Campanelli (AKA Rick the Temp). Unfortunately, the delay meant Sound Check Entertainment was unable to catch opening act Calling All Captains, with coverage beginning as Bif Naked took the stage.
If there was ever an artist capable of lifting spirits after an unexpected weather delay, it was Bif Naked.
The veteran Canadian rocker wasted no time injecting positivity into the festival grounds, opening her set with Choking on the Truth before rolling into Let Down and Champion. Decades into her career, Bif continues to command a stage with infectious energy and an unmistakable charisma that immediately won over an audience eager to finally hear live music after the long wait.
Her performance struck a balance between hard-hitting rock and uplifting optimism. Lucky and Tango Shoes kept the crowd engaged before Spaceman reminded everyone why Bif Naked has remained one of Canada’s most beloved rock performers for so many years.
Closing with I Love Myself Today, she delivered exactly the kind of feel-good anthem the festival needed. Thousands sang along as the clouds that had delayed the event became little more than a distant memory. It was a fitting conclusion to a set that successfully reset the mood and officially launched Rockin’ Thunder 2026.
Where Bif Naked brought optimism, grandson brought intensity.
The Toronto-born alternative rocker transformed the atmosphere almost immediately with the industrial pulse of AUTONOMOUS DELIVERY ROBOT, setting the tone for one of the most energetic performances of the afternoon. His stage presence was relentless, feeding off the crowd’s enthusiasm while encouraging fans to match his energy from the very first song.
Tracks like BURY YOU, We Did It!!!, and Oh No!!! kept the momentum building before the politically charged BELLS OF WAR and Stigmata showcased grandson’s willingness to combine heavy riffs with thought-provoking lyrics.
As the set progressed, the energy only intensified. Darkside, Overdose, and LITTLE WHITE LIES had fans jumping in unison, while SELF IMMOLATION demonstrated the controlled chaos that has become synonymous with his live performances.
One of the afternoon’s standout moments came with his powerful rendition of Bob Dylan’s Masters of War. Rather than feeling out of place among his original material, the classic protest song fit seamlessly into the themes present throughout grandson’s catalogue and was met with enthusiastic applause.
By the time BRAINROT, YOU MADE ME THIS WAY, and the explosive Blood // Water brought the performance to a close, grandson had delivered one of the day’s most emotionally charged sets. It wasn’t simply a concert – it was a performance designed to provoke thought while giving fans plenty of reasons to move.
As evening settled over the Exhibition Lands, The Glorious Sons took the stage with the confidence of a band that has spent years earning its place among Canada’s premier rock acts.
Opening with Nothing Gets Me Off, the Kingston, Ontario outfit wasted little time reminding Rockin’ Thunder why they continue to headline festivals across the country. S.O.S. (Sawed Off Shotgun) and Panic Attack immediately had the audience singing along, proving just how deeply their catalogue has become embedded in Canadian rock culture.
Throughout the set, frontman Brett Emmons carried himself with an almost detached confidence. Before launching into many of the songs, he often stood motionless with an expression that could easily be interpreted as smug, bored, or impatient. Whether intentional or simply part of his stage persona, the contrast made the explosive energy of each song hit even harder once the band kicked into gear.
That contrast worked remarkably well. Between Emmons’ unique presence and the band’s unmistakable chemistry, songs like Godless, Graceless and Young, The Ongoing Speculation Into the Death Of Rock and Roll, Josie, and Mercy Mercy resonated with an audience that responded by singing nearly every chorus back toward the stage.
The middle portion of the set never lost momentum. My Poor Heart, White Noise, Spirit to Break, Hardest Drug, and Hide My Love showcased the band’s versatility before New Plan and Lean On Me Love slowed the pace just enough to let the emotional weight of the lyrics shine through.
By the closing stretch featuring Mama, Kill The Lights, You Stay Young, Everything Is Alright, and Cellular, The Glorious Sons had transformed the festival grounds into one giant singalong. Their lengthy performance served as the perfect bridge between the afternoon’s excitement and the evening’s headline act.
If anyone wondered whether a 90-minute weather delay would sap the crowd’s energy, Three Days Grace erased that thought within seconds of taking the stage.
Opening with Dominate, the Canadian rock veterans immediately commanded the attention of thousands who had patiently waited through the afternoon storm. It was the perfect statement of intent from a band whose catalogue has soundtracked generations of rock fans.
The current incarnation of Three Days Grace feels completely at home. Rather than feeling like two separate eras awkwardly stitched together, Adam Gontier and Matt Walst have developed a natural chemistry that allows each vocalist to shine while complementing one another throughout the performance.
From the opening notes of Animal I Have Become, it became clear the audience intended to sing every word. The energy remained relentless through So Called Life, Break, I Am Machine, and Pain, each met with deafening cheers from every corner of the festival grounds.
The band’s ability to move effortlessly between classic hits and newer material kept the performance feeling fresh. The Mountain, Kill Me Fast, and Mayday blended seamlessly alongside fan favourites that have stood the test of time.
Few moments generated a louder response than I Hate Everything About You, as thousands of voices overwhelmed the band’s own microphones. Time of Dying, Just Like You, The Good Life, and Painkiller continued the nostalgia-fuelled celebration before the emotional Never Too Late provided one of the night’s most heartfelt moments.
There was only one way the night could end.
As the opening riff of Riot echoed across the Exhibition Lands, the entire audience erupted one final time. Every lyric was shouted back toward the stage as fans squeezed every last ounce of energy from a day that had begun with uncertainty but ended in triumph.
The opening day of Rockin’ Thunder may have started with thunder in the skies, but it ended with thousands of voices echoing throughout the Exhibition Lands Racetrack. A frustrating 90-minute weather delay quickly faded into memory thanks to outstanding performances from Bif Naked, grandson, The Glorious Sons, and a career-spanning headline set from Three Days Grace.
If Day One proved anything, it’s that Alberta rock fans aren’t easily discouraged. They waited out the storm, embraced every minute once the music began, and helped create an atmosphere worthy of the festival’s long-awaited return.
With Creed still waiting in the wings for Day Two, Rockin’ Thunder had already established one thing beyond any doubt:
Sometimes the best festivals are the ones that have to fight through a storm before the real thunder begins.
