Rockin’ The Fields Review: Bands deliver the goods in Minnedosa

MINNEDOSA — Rockin’ The Fields of Minnedosa is all about memories, and three Canadian acts and one of the world’s biggest stars for a while made sure music fans went home with some great new ones on Sunday.

Nick Gilder and Sweeney Todd opened Sunday’s program with Gilder’s chart-topping 1978 hit “Hot Child In The City” as the crowd began to take shape.

After a trip through his and his band’s catalogue, in perhaps the most surprising moment of the day to those who didn’t know, Gilder played the massive international hit “The Warrior” that he wrote for Scandal in 1984 with Holly Knight.

The 74-year-old London-born, Canadian-raised singer then finished strong with Sweeney Todd’s No. 1 single in 1976, “Roxy Roller.”

After a half-hour break, Harlequin opened with “Superstitious Feeling,” and their charismatic singer George Belanger quickly won the crowd over with his tight band.

The band has veteran Winnipeg rocker Chris Burke-Gaffney playing bass, and after bouncing through a catalogue featuring a number of Canadian radio classics, in a nice moment, Belanger ceded the mic to Burke-Gaffney to sing “Miracle,” the 1983 hit he recorded with Orphan.

The Winnipeggers later finished strong with two of their bigger hits, 1982’s “I Did It For Love” and 1980’s “Innocence.”

While 54-40 released their debut in 1984, just as Harlequin was in their prime, the British Columbia rockers have put out 15 albums since and been a staple on Canadian radio.

In fact, they included a catchy new track, “Running For The Fence,” off their 2026 album “PORTO.”

54-40 has always had a bit of a quirky, mischievous streak, and they showed it off to good effect with a brief sing-along on the old Creedence Clearwater Revival hit “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”

While the majority of the set was guitar, bass, drums and organ, they also had some saxophone, electric piano and even leadman Neil Osborne singing through a bullhorn into the microphone at one point.

When they started the opening chords of their 1986 hit “I Go Blind,” they drew a loud cheer from the crowd, and their 1994 hit “Ocean Pearl” also drew a rousing reaction.

Cheap Trick took the stage at 9:50, and with more than 50 years experience as a band, the 70-minute set was predictably tight in front of their first Canadian crowd of 2026. They kicked off with their 1979 classic “Dream Police” and the party quickly elevated to another level with an appreciative group of fans.

After 1977’s “Elo Kiddies” from their debut album, they dashed through “Big Eyes” and did their cover of “Ain’t That A Shame,” the Fats Domino cover that helped make them stars when it appeared on their “Cheap Trick at Budokan” live album in 1979.

They fast-forwarded to 2017’s “We’re All Alright!” and then transitioned to their 2025 single “Twelve Gates,” which had some in the crowd a little restive as they called out for the hits.

The band leaned back into its catalogue for 1978’s “Stiff Competition,” and then lead singer Robin Zander called on his son Robin Taylor Zander to handle the vocals on “She’s Tight.”

After “High Roller” and another visit to the “Dream Police” album with “I Know What I Want,” they slowed things down with their 1988 hit “The Flame,” which again allowed father and son to showcase how nicely their voices work together.

The power ballad was also a signal the end was nigh. They jumped into “I Want You To Want Me” and then moved to “Surrender,” two of their most durable hits, and the festival was rockin’.

After saying good night, the encore began with 77-year-old guitarist Rick Neilsen playing a solo that led into “Auf Wiedersehen.” They finished up promptly at 11 with “Goodnight Now,” which has been a frequent set closer over the years.

They missed band classics like “Need Your Love,” “Voices,” “Stop This Game,” “Gonna Raise Hell,” “Tonight It’s You” and a personal favourite in “Oh, Candy,” but with a tight set, it’s inevitable.

Time comes for all of us, and it was apparent at times with the original members, Neilsen, Zander and bassist Tom Petersson, that they simple couldn’t do what they could decades ago. (Nor can any of the rest of us.)

It’s especially noticeable with Neilsen, a madman in his prime who was Cheap Trick’s high-energy answer to AC/DC’s Angus Young.

But for a night, with the old songs sounding a lot like they used to, a highly experienced rock-and-roll band drew the festival to a fitting conclusion.

» pbergson@brandonsun.com