The Deep Purple Splat! world tour hit Toronto on 18 August 2026 for a night of classic rock that had fans, new and old, making their way down to the RBC Amphitheatre for a fantastic and nostalgic night of live music.
Deep Purple – Kansas – Jefferson Starship
RBC Amphitheatre, Toronto – 18 August 2026
Words And Photography: Taylor Cameron
Closing out the night were none other than Deep Purple, and they hit the stage at full force, opening their set with Highway Star. The crowd excitedly sang along.
It is hard to believe the band’s average age is 80 (minus guitarist Simon McBride), because they still deliver strong performances night after night as if it were 1976, not 2026.
Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, and Roger Glover, all members of what would be considered Mark II of Deep Purple’s lineup, still hit the stage every night with a fiery passion. It is clear that they still enjoy what they do after all these years.
Simon McBride and the legendary Don Airey (Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne) round out the lineup, both musicians being masters of their craft and the perfect fit for the band.
Machine Head was the most featured album in the setlist, with newer tracks Lazy Sod (2024) and Diablo (2026) hitting the right spot. David Freiberg and Cathy Richardson of Jefferson Starship even made an appearance during Diablo, helping out on backing vocal duties, which was a fun surprise for fans.
Continuing to release new music and touring frequently, Deep Purple show no sign of slowing down. Something so special about bands from the ’70s/’80s, is that it is clear that they are on that stage for the love of the music.
They have paid their dues and gone through the hardships, but they continue to perform because it is what they love to do.
When McBride took centre stage and started playing the iconic riff to Smoke On The Water, the crowd went wild. Everyone stood to their feet for possibly the band’s most notable song.
Every fan in the crowd brought their singing voices for this one as Gillan commended the audience to help him out, not that he had to, as everyone was already singing along.
“We’re not done yet,” Gillan said as they kicked into Guinnesis. Opting not to leave the stage before playing their encore, they closed out the evening with their cover of Joe South’s Hush.
We did not get Ritchie Blackmore on stage, but fans still left not wanting the night to end. Tonight was the perfect blend of nostalgic and hard-hitting riffs.
Kansas
The current Kansas lineup may not include any original members, however, the musicians who take the stage every night to play these classic songs are keeping the spirit of Kansas and its music alive.
And they are doing a damn good job at it.
It is easy to tell that they respect the legacy that Kerry Livgren created throughout the early years of the band, and they continue to honour it every night on stage.
Bringing a more progressive sound to the evening, they kept the show diverse. From Fight Fire With Fire, Dust In The Wind and Song For America, to closing out their set with Carry On My Wayward Son, all the fan favourites were played.
The crowd sang along to every word. The delivery of the songs was spot on. Impeccable harmonies, ripping guitar solos and large drum parts filled the amphitheatre, making their set incredibly memorable and worth praising.
Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship started off the night with some classic AOR. Although they only performed a short seven-song set, they treated it like a headline performance.
Original member David Freiberg still graces the current lineup of the band at the age of 87. Freiberg is one of the oldest current touring musicians in the industry. Cathy Richardson handles lead vocal duties alongside Freiberg, with Donny Baldwin (drums), Jude Gold (Guitar) and Chris Smith (Keys) finishing off the lineup.
Their classic hits, Jane, We Built This City, and Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now, had everyone singing along. These classic AOR hits still hold up today.
Their set also included a brand new track titled Jet Pack and their cover of The Great Society’s Somebody To Love. Playing with as much passion as when the songs were first released, Freiberg still visibly loves what he does.
This energy carried throughout the entire band. Jefferson Starship started off the night on a high.
