SONiC BOOM Rewind: 2009 & 2010

For years, the Labour Day Weekend meant SONiC BOOM in Edmonton. We all miss coming together to sing along with out favourite bands, so let’s reminisce about the ‘good old days’ of live music together!

SONiC BOOM 2009

It was the very first SONiC BOOM ever. Edmonton came together on the Northlands grounds to take in some of the year’s best alternative music.

Billy Talent, Alexisonfire and Franz Ferdinand headlined the one-day event on Northlands grounds.

Jason Mewes, a.k.a. Jay from Jay & Silent Bob hosted the one-day event, introducing you to bands like Edmonton’s own The Wet Secrets, who were the very first band to ever play the festival!

Listeners wore the desirable SONiC landyards as they swayed back and forth to the music while waiting in the beer line, in a port-a-potty or while lounging on Northlands minimal grass. Friends and memories were made.

Not only was it the first SONiC BOOM, and it was also some listeners’ first concert experience.

But like all festivals, there were some snags. Taking Back Sunday had to cancel their set. But did that stop anyone from rocking out? Heck no.

Girl Talk threw beach balls into the crowd.

Metric put on a blazing hot set.

Franz Ferdinand signed posters for lucky SONiC listeners.

Their set list had people on their feet!

Billy Talent played for a packed crowd at Northlands.

They played a 17-song set, oozing with some of their biggest hits.

SONiC BOOM 2010:

As the festival grew, so did the bill. Rise Against, Weezer and City and Colour headline while then-small time band Mother Mother helped open the festival. 

Terry Cahill from Fubar hosted the one-day event, eh. Here he is just givn’r with Garner Andrews.

We all know that the shared experience of live music can be cathartic, but for Cheryl and her husband, seeing Weezer play at SONiC BOOM 2010 was exactly what their broken hearts needed.

“I’ve been meaning to share this for a while. Here’s my BOOM 2010 memory. On August 24, 2010 my brother in law suddenly passed away in his home country of England. I had to fly there to help my sister with funeral plans. My husband stayed back, not having enough bereavement days to do the trip. My husband and I had planned on attending SONiC BOOM, as Weezer was playing. While I was away, he tried to get rid of our VIP tickets. I landed on the Saturday at 4:00pm of BOOM. My husband picked up my tired ass from the airport and told me we were unable to get rid of tickets, and we were going. We arrived at Northlands, and found a spot in the VIP section. Weezer hit the stage, and it was awesome. Rivers Cuomo singing from the trailer, the beach ball being tossed around, the sun setting, the smell of the rain that had just fallen, and the people around me enjoying life. This was what my husband and I needed. It was the first time in 2 weeks were I wasn’t emerged in misery. It was fun, and joyous, and the whole point of being alive. It will always be that bittersweet memory. We didn’t stay for Rise Against, but it didn’t matter. Boom had started to heal our hearts. Thanks for that.”

SONiC listener Harold Lazano rocked out hard to Bad Religion as it poured.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDZFI6HkwUd/

Speaking of rain, some listeners protected themselves from it with the classic festival look – garbage bags!

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SONiC listener Tiffany Lorenz snapped this picture as the sun began to set just before Weezer’s set (check out that super 2010 Blackberry sponsorship! BBM anyone?).

Rivers Cuomo used the stage as a climbing gym.

Rise Against left Edmonton with a blistering 20-song set.