Def Leppard, Jason Aldean Tapped to Headline New Winnipeg Stadium Music Festival in July 2025

Winnipeg, MB – A major new live music festival is set to debut in Winnipeg next summer, bringing headline-grabbing acts Def Leppard and Jason Aldean to the city’s Princess Auto Stadium in July 2025. The event, officially titled the Thunder Stadium Concert Series, marks a significant return of large-scale stadium concerts to the venue after an eight-year hiatus.

The announcement was jointly made by True North Sports + Entertainment and the Winnipeg Football Club, the entities overseeing the stadium and its operations. Organizers have expressed intentions for the Thunder Stadium Concert Series to become an annual festival, establishing a recurring major music event in the prairie city.

The festival is structured across two distinct nights, each catering to different musical tastes with curated lineups.

“Rocking Thunder”: A Night of Classic and Modern Rock

The first night, dubbed “Rocking Thunder,” is scheduled for July 9th, 2025. This evening promises a powerful lineup anchored by the legendary British rock band Def Leppard as the headliner. Joining them on the stage will be iconic artists including Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, known for their timeless anthems, the enduring rock sounds of Foreigner, and Canadian favourites Toque. The programming for this night leans heavily into established rock acts with broad appeal, aiming to attract fans of multiple generations.

“Country Thunder”: Chart-Toppers Take the Stage

The second night, “Country Thunder,” will follow on July 10th, 2025, shifting the focus to contemporary country music. Headlining this evening will be the highly successful American country music star Jason Aldean. The lineup supporting Aldean includes prominent figures from the modern country scene: Tyler Hubbard, one half of the popular duo Florida Georgia Line now pursuing a solo career; rising artist Nate Smith; and Canadian country singer Madeline Merlo. This night is designed to draw in the significant fanbase for mainstream country music.

Return to Stadium Scale

The decision to host the festival at Princess Auto Stadium is notable, as it signifies the first stadium-scale music shows held at the venue since 2017. Stadium concerts offer a different experience compared to arena or smaller venue shows, allowing for significantly larger audiences and production capabilities. The organizers’ plan to make this an annual series suggests a strategic effort to position Winnipeg as a regular stop for major touring artists capable of filling large outdoor venues.

True North Sports + Entertainment, primarily known for operating the city’s NHL franchise and its arena, and the Winnipeg Football Club, which manages the stadium for the Canadian Football League team, are leveraging their combined resources and infrastructure to bring this large-scale entertainment event to fruition.

Criticism Surrounds One Headliner

Despite the excitement surrounding the launch of a new major music festival and the calibre of the headlining acts, the inclusion of Jason Aldean has reportedly drawn criticism. The concerns appear to centre on the potential use of public funding for an event featuring an artist who has faced scrutiny regarding his past political affiliations and public statements.

Specific points of contention cited in the criticism include Aldean’s performance at a U.S. presidential inauguration, linking him publicly to a specific political event, and controversy stemming from a controversial 2023 video he released. The nature of this criticism highlights ongoing debates in the public sphere regarding the intersection of artists’ political activities or controversial content and the use of public resources for cultural events. The extent and specific source of the reported criticism were not detailed in the announcement, but its mention underscores a layer of public debate surrounding the festival’s lineup choice.

Overall, the Thunder Stadium Concert Series aims to inject new energy into Winnipeg’s summer music scene by bringing major international acts to a large-capacity outdoor venue. While the announcement has generated anticipation for the return of stadium shows and the diverse lineups, it also navigates contemporary sensitivities regarding artist conduct and public funding.