London and Montreal will host co-headline arena shows featuring Alexisonfire and Billy Talent this summer, celebrating the 20th anniversaries of their landmark albums, ‘Crisis’ and ‘Billy Talent II’.
A Double Dose of Nostalgia: Alexisonfire & Billy Talent Announce Anniversary Shows
The Canadian rock staples will perform their defining albums in full, offering fans a trip down memory lane.
- Alexisonfire and Billy Talent will co-headline shows in London and Montreal.
- Both bands will play their albums ‘Crisis’ and ‘Billy Talent II’ in their entirety.
- Pre-sales began February 10 at 10 a.m. local time, with general sales starting February 13 at 10 a.m. local time.
- The bands will alternate closing duties, with Alexisonfire closing in London and Billy Talent in Montreal.
Fans can relive the energy of the early 2000s as Alexisonfire and Billy Talent bring their iconic albums to life on stage. The performances promise a deep dive into the sounds that propelled both bands to the forefront of the Canadian music scene.
What made ‘Crisis’ and ‘Billy Talent II’ so impactful? Both albums represent pivotal moments in the bands’ careers, capturing a raw energy and lyrical depth that resonated with a generation.
The tour kicks off at London’s OVO Wembley Arena on June 24, with support from Touche Amore. The bands then head to Montreal’s Bell Centre on July 17, with Faze opening the show. In a nod to their long-standing camaraderie, Alexisonfire and Billy Talent will alternate closing each night – Alexisonfire will close the London show, while Billy Talent will take the final slot in Montreal.
Tickets for the London show are available here, and tickets for the Montreal performance can be purchased here. Pre-sales started February 10 at 10 a.m. local time, with general sales launching February 13 at 10 a.m. local time.
Alexisonfire frontman George Pettit reflected on the milestone, stating, “It feels like you blink and all of a sudden your album is almost old enough to drink in the United States.” He added, “So many incredible memories of making this record. It felt like we were really coming into our own as a band. We discovered another level of potential that we didn’t have at the start. I’m happy we get to relive it this summer with all of you.”
Since their emergence in the early 2000s, Alexisonfire and Billy Talent have been central figures in the Canadian music landscape. The bands’ paths intertwined early on, evolving from shared club gigs across Canada to headlining arenas and festivals worldwide, fostering a lasting friendship and collaborative spirit.
Alexisonfire’s ‘Crisis’ delved into themes surrounding the ‘Blizzard of 1977’ and the struggles of working-class individuals, embodying a darker tone than their previous work, a shift the band attributed to a broadened perspective gained through global travel. ‘Billy Talent II’, meanwhile, achieved significant commercial success, debuting at Number One on the Canadian Albums Chart and earning 4x Platinum certification in Canada and 2x Platinum in Germany, with global sales exceeding one million copies. The album featured hits like ‘Devil in a Midnight Mass’, ‘Fallen Leaves’, ‘Surrender’, and ‘This Suffering’, and was awarded the JUNO Award for Rock Album of the Year.
