It’s been an emotional summer for many die-hard fans of The Tragically Hip as the band wound its way across Canada for what many believe will be its final tour. Saturday night, the legendary Canadian rockers ended their Man Machine Poem tour in their hometown of Kingston.
“It’s absolutely historic, it’s the Hip, it’s Canada,” Lisa L’hirondelle said. “Everybody across the country is watching this tonight.”
L’hirondelle joined friends to watch the show on a big screen at Edmonton’s Fringe Festival.
“The music has brought a whole county together. He’s given so much back to the people that support him the most,” Dave Gross said.
Across the country, viewing parties were organized to watch a live television broadcast of the concert and several such parties took place in Alberta’s capital.
The band’s tour kicked off in Victoria, B.C. on July 22, less than two months after the band revealed frontman Gord Downie had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
READ MORE: Gord Downie, The Tragically Hip lead singer, diagnosed with terminal brain cancer
Late last month, the band treated Edmontonians to two concerts at Rexall Place. Ahead of their first Edmonton performance on the tour, Mayor Don Iveson declared July 28 to be Tragically Hip Day in Alberta’s capital.
“I’m definitely going to be sad, the Hip’s a big part of my life,” one fan said watching the show on a big screen at the Fringe. “It’s incredibly relatable to a lot of people and I think that’s what made their legacy last so long. Hopefully it’s not the last, but we’re here for Gord, hopefully he pulls through.”
READ MORE: Tragically Hip set to play Edmonton’s Rexall Place Thursday night
Watch below: Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson declared Thursday to be Tragically Hip Day. That’s because the legendary Canadian rock band is in Alberta’s capital to perform in front of legions of fans Thursday night. It will mark the first appearance by the band in Edmonton since it was revealed singer Gord Downie has terminal brain cancer. Shallima Maharaj reports.
The 15th and final concert of the tour was being broadcast live by the CBC at 6:30 p.m. but for people in and around Edmonton who wanted to enjoy the concert in a large crowd, there were several options even if you couldn’t be at the Kingston concert itself.
READ MORE: Kingston prepares for Tragically Hip’s final Man Machine Poem tour stop
Fans gathered to watch the Hip’s concert in and around Edmonton at several locations:
- Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival (North Beer Tent) (Edmonton)
- Arden Theatre (St. Albert) ***NO MORE TICKETS AVAILABLE
- Central Social Hall (St. Albert)
- Morinville Community Cultural Centre (Morinville)
- Rocky Mountain Ice House (Edmonton)
- MKT Fresh Food & Beer Market (Edmonton)
- Canadian Brewhouse (Edmonton)
- Brewsters Brewing Co./Beer Revolution restaurant locations (Edmonton)
The Tragically Hip formed in Kingston in 1984 and have since gone on to record 14 studio albums and become one of the most popular Canadian rock bands in history.
Watch below: Sheldon Wolfe was just a boy growing up in the small town of Champion, Alta. when he made an appearance in The Tragically Hip’s award-winning music video for the song “Locked in the Trunk of a Car.” He spoke about his memories as the band passes through Alberta on what could be its final tour as singer Gord Downie has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
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