Featuring Tenille Townes, Big Wreck, The Glorious Sons, Nickelback
Perfect weather helped welcome over 20,000 music fans at the Garrison Grounds at Citadel Hill on Friday, June 27, for the first-ever Halifax Music Fest. The sunny skies set the vibes for the opening day of the fest, featuring performances by Tenille Townes, Big Wreck, The Glorious Sons, and headliners Nickelback. It was a perfect way to kick off the weekend!
Kicking off the day for early arrivals was Alberta country singer-songwriter Tenille Townes, joined by her band. She performed a handful of songs and showcased her range with songs like “White Horse,” fan-favourite “Somebody’s Daughter,” and “The Thing That Wrecks You,” which she recorded with Bryan Adams after mailing him a CD with her demo.
Next up was rock powerhouse Big Wreck, performing a set including “The Oaf,” “Albatross,” and of course “That Song.” They also played “Come Again” from frontman Ian Thornley’s alternative rock band Thornley, which he had formed when Big Wreck were on hiatus in the early 2000s, earning cheers from the crowd.
Canadian rockers from Kingston, Ontario, The Glorious Sons hit the stage with a burst of energy that lit up the crowd. From their opening song “Union” and closing out with “Pink Motel,” frontman Brett Emmons jumped and ran around the stage barefoot without missing a beat. As the crowd sang along to every word, locked in the moment, the band also performed hits such as “Heavy,” “Everything is Alright,” and “S.O.S.,” which exhibited their versatility as a band.
Closing out the night were none other than Alberta rock icons Nickelback, who had the crowd roaring from the moment they launched into “San Quentin.” From the first note, they lit things up, literally kicking off their set with a blast of pyrotechnics that set the tone for a high-energy performance. The band mixed storytelling and banter between songs, and referred to the infamous “Photograph” meme before performing the hit “Photograph.” The set featured softer songs such as “Savin’ Me,” “Gotta Be Somebody,” and “Far Away,” along with heavier hits such as “Animals,” “Figured You Out,” and ending the night with “Burn it to the Ground.” A surprise highlight came during “Rockstar,” when locals Julian and Ricky from Trailer Park Boys joined them onstage to perform it with them.
