Simple Plan‘s performance at the FMG festival in Gatineau was a powerful reminder of just how lasting a band’s connection with its audience can be.
From the moment the Montreal pop-punk veterans took the stage at Parc de la Baie, the energy across the festival grounds was undeniable. With nearly 200,000 people attending the five-day festival overall, Simple Plan’s September 4th performance was clearly one of the weekend’s major draws. A never-ending sea of fans sang along, creating a sense of collective nostalgia that stretched across generations. From young children experiencing the band for the first time to longtime fans who grew up with their music, the crowd was a reflection of Simple Plan’s remarkable 27-year career. One of the coolest parts of the evening was seeing entire families enjoying the show together, from young children to grandparents. I was there with my own mother, who heard their music blasting through my bedroom walls so often while I was growing up that she eventually became a fan herself!
For many fans, Simple Plan’s music is deeply tied to memories of adolescence, and that connection was evident throughout the evening. Their ability to bring those memories back while simultaneously creating new ones was one of the most memorable aspects of the performance.
The band’s ability to connect with younger audiences has also been helped by an unexpected resurgence in the digital age. In 2020, their hit from 2002 “I’m Just A Kid” became the soundtrack to a viral TikTok challenge, in which users recreated childhood photos. The trend introduced the song to a whole new generation, proving that Simple Plan’s music could still find an audience nearly two decades after its original release.
The show was particularly meaningful for me as a photographer. More than twenty years ago, I was listening to them on repeat in my bedroom. After seeing the band live for the first time in 2024, I realized that concert photography was the direction I wanted to take my career. Returning to see them again felt like a full-circle moment, even without a camera in my hands.
While I had hoped to photograph the performance, being able to step back and simply experience the show offered something equally valuable: the chance to reconnect with the music that had been such an important part of my younger years.
After 27 years, Simple Plan continues to prove that great music doesn’t belong to one generation. It grows with its audience and brings new generations along for the ride.
Review (and phone photos) – Jessica Couture
Cover photo – Maelle Ramsay
Share this :
