SONiC BOOM Rewind: 2015 & 2016

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

SONiC BOOM 2015

SONiC BOOM 2015 was the year we moved the festival to the beautiful Borden Park. The question marks on the poster ended up being filled by The Flaming Lips and Young The Giant, who were surprise additions to the lineup.

Who could forget when Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips got in a hamster ball and rolled all over the crowd!

USS’ Human Kebab hung out with Bryce Kelley, Garner Andrews and Al Ford in the beer gardens.

He later did some mixes in between sets.

Rural Alberta Advantage played in the misty rain.

The Killers’ Brandon Flowers performed a blistering solo set as the sun began to peek behind the clouds.

Tenacious D performed a sweet and gentle set.

“Listening to Tenacious D from across the street in my first year of university. Stood there and let the jams hit my soul. – SONiC listener Robert”

The on and off rainy weather didn’t stop people from coming out to enjoy the music. Darryl Tait, a huge fan of Alexisonfire, flew all the way down to SONiC BOOM from the Yukon and crowd-surfed in his wheelchair! You can listen to his interview with Lauren below.

Sonic Boom 2015 – one of our favourite festivals in #YEG, the festival city! #EvocablePR #publicrelations #yeg #yegevents #ExploreEdmonton #eventplanners #eventprofs #Canadianevents #festival #musicfestival #events pic.twitter.com/lhCV99ZMm4

— evocablepublicrelations (@EvocablePublicR) December 9, 2018

“I was stuck in a hotel in Iceland due to our rental having some mechanical issues. I was not planning on going to BOOM that year, but then saw a contest on Facebook for free tickets. Threw my name in and won free tickets! My flight was booked to land Saturday night around 11, so I missed the first night. That Sunday I was there in a tank top and cut off jeans ready to mosh it up when Alexisonfire hit the stage! I remember it was rather cold and a few people even had parkas on. Was a great experience, had people thanking me for the mosh pit by the end of the day. At one point the circle pit was in full swing and I stood in the center swarmed by my fellow metal heads. It was beautiful :’)” – SONiC Listener Kam

SONiC BOOM 2016

SONiC BOOM 2016, the very last year of BOOM. It was also held in Borden Park, the year of the SONiC Boom Snapchat filter, twenty one pilot’s Tyler Joseph’s disappearing act, and Garners-on-a-stick.

Max of Arkells dove into the crowd.

Wintersleep ended up having to borrow Arkells’ equipment after theirs got lost in travel. Canadian bands taking care of one another!

“In 2016 my obsession with twenty one pilots was in full swing at this point. I was absolutely a super fan and had seen them the first time they came around when they were at the jubilee. I was at lunch at school when I saw the 2016 lineup with twenty one pilots headlining and totally freaked out with happiness and almost asked to go home because I couldn’t focus. I convinced my dad they are worth the watch live and so he and my friend came along with me. This very day opened my eyes to my love of live music and concerts. The whole day I was so excited the smile never left my face. When twenty one pilots came on that night I never felt more alive. I sang my heart out and lost my voice completely. To this day I consider that the best day of my life and it’s all because of SONiC. I am getting a twenty one pilots tattoo in September to commemorate that day and that feeling I got when they came on. I’ve seen many concerts since and nothing has ever compared. Thanks for my favourite memory ever, SONiC! Fan for life.” – SONiC listener Hannah

twenty one pilots’ Tyler Joseph ran on top of the crowd in a giant red hamster ball!

“Unfortunately, I only have one saved picture from SONiC BOOM 2016, my first year going. I had seen twenty one pilots in April that year in Edmonton, so hearing that they were playing again at SONiC BOOM, I was so excited, as well as every supporting band. I only went the second day, but I remember lining up as early as 8:30am, and bolting to my spot in the crowd, not moving from there and surviving on Welch’s fruit snacks and a bottle of water. Some of my fondest memories were made in that pit, and I got to see my favourite band play directly above me! I learned about many new bands that I hadn’t heard of through SONiC BOOM, like Scenic Route to Alaska, which I first saw in 2016 and followed them for years!! The band even knows who I am by now 🙂 I have so much to thank SONiC BOOM for and I hope it comes back one day??” – SONiC listener Ori

twenty one pilots slowed it down with some piano.

“My best memory from 2016 is that my daughter and I parked ourselves as close to the stage as possible for best views of twenty one pilots that night. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to stay in one spot all day but I did it and had such a great time!!” – SONiC listener Michelle

The twenty one pilots show ended up being Super SONiC host Brooklyn’s little brother Jasper’s first concert! He was just six years old.

The Lumineers shut the festival down with an epic performance in Borden Park. Remember their mini-stage in the crowd?

“Favourite SONiC BOOM memory was when the Lumineers were headlining.  We found out it was Neyla’s birthday, so I made her a birthday sign to find it featured on their Instagram page the next day.  When she saw the sign from onstage, she gave me gratitude palms together and a head nod.  During their set on the small stage, Wesley Shultz jumped the little fence to go into the crowd and it was my boyfriend who helped him over the stage and I got to give him a pat on the back.  After the set, one of the band members asked if they could keep the sign. In my drunken stupor I was confused until my boyfriend finally said give them the damn sign!  Best. Night. Ever.” – SONiC listener Amy

The Lumineers even put the sign on their Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ9lANtjEK-/

2016 was the year SONiC BOOM artists like twenty one pilots, July Talk and more answered some juicy q’s.