Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Weezer @ Rockin’ Thunder

The inaugural Rockin’ Thunder festival in Edmonton was less of a tentative first try and more of a declaration: big rock festivals are back on the prairies. Staged at the Exhibition Lands Racetrack, the weekend-long event tapped into multi-generational nostalgia with a lineup that spanned the ‘80s, ‘90s, and early 2000s. For a city hungry for marquee festivals, Rockin’ Thunder filled a void with confidence and a bit of cosmic flair.

Closing out the festival was Weezer, a perennial live favourite who knew exactly how to play the crowd. They ran through all the hits, from “Buddy Holly” to “Say It Ain’t So,” with a few clever lyrical tweaks that paid tribute to Edmonton itself - transforming lines in “Undone (The Sweater Song)” and “Beverly Hills” with shout-outs like “hanging out on Jasper Avenue.” The stage visuals elevated the experience, with vibrant animations of an intergalactic journey unfolding as the band played - the kind of visual storytelling that makes festival sets feel worth the ticket alone outside of a stadium/arena environment.

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Weezer @ Rockin’ Thunder

Earlier in the weekend, Stone Temple Pilots brought their brand of ‘90s alternative rock to life, with a standout moment when the band’s lead singer gifted his sunglasses to a kid perched on their parent’s shoulders in the crowd. It was a gesture that encapsulated the festival’s intergenerational appeal. Fathers hoisted kids onto their backs, while groups of twenty-somethings embraced the nostalgia, decked out in band tees and revelling in memories of songs passed down or rediscovered on playlists.

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Stone Temple Pilots @ Rockin’ Thunder

Day one leaned into an ‘80s-heavy vibe with Def Leppard, Brett Michaels, and Joan Jett igniting the classic rock energy, while day two was a definitive nod to ‘90s and early-aughts alternative, headlined by Weezer, with Default, Sam Roberts Band, and The Trews offering a treat for the indie rock faithful. Whether attendees wanted to sit back with picnic blankets in the main general admission area or jump into the platinum viewing zones for an up-close, mosh-ready experience, Rockin’ Thunder ensured that there was something for everyone.

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Brett Michaels @ Rockin’ Thunder

For some, the weekend may have stirred memories of Calgary’s X-Fest, the short-lived but legendary festival that once brought Arctic Monkeys, Jack White, Weezer, and Blink-182 together in a single weekend. Rockin’ Thunder seems to promise a return to that scale of programming: a large-format festival anchored in rock, but with the potential to grow beyond legacy acts. Still, there’s no denying the current festival trend - nostalgia sells. The success of events like Just Like Heaven, for the indie sleaze revivalists, or When We Were Young, for emo devotees, suggests that Rockin’ Thunder could continue to thrive as a throwback festival.

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - Crowd at Weezer @ Rockin’ Thunder

With 2026 dates already confirmed, Rockin’ Thunder is poised to be a staple in Edmonton’s music calendar. Whether it expands into contemporary names or keeps mining the rich seams of rock history, its debut made one thing clear: Alberta’s appetite for big, loud, legacy festivals is alive and well.