Princess Auto Stadium was turned into one massive rock ’n’ roll show on September 20, 2026 as AC/DC brought their Power Up Tour to Winnipeg, with The Pretty Reckless opening the night.
The Pretty Reckless wasted no time getting the stadium ready for what was to come. Fronted by Taylor Momsen, the band delivered a tight, hitting set that brought plenty of energy to the stadium. Taylor for sure had fun hyping the crowd from one side to the other side. Having already made an impression on Winnipeg audience when they opened for Greta Van Fleet a few years ago, it was great to see The Pretty Reckless back in the city, this time sharing the stage with a legend of a band in the rock world.
Their continued appearances in Winnipeg also show just how much the band has grown in the city. After seeing the response they received tonight, it feels like The Pretty Reckless have reached the point where their next Winnipeg appearance should be a headliner. Possibly two shows at the Burton Cummings Theatre would make perfect sense, but with the reach they now have in the city, even a Canada Life Centre headline date with some well established openers doesn't feel out of the question.
When AC/DC finally hit the stage, the opening notes of “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” immediately set the tone. From there, the band went straight into “Back in Black,” and the stadium erupted with singing, keeping the momentum rolling with “Demon Fire” and “Shot Down in Flames.” The set was a trip through AC/DC’s catalogue, balancing a few songs from Power Up material with the songs that have made the band one of the biggest names in rock.
“Thunderstruck” and of course “Highway to Hell” were obvious stadium sized highlights, while “Hells Bells” brought a darker change of pace before the band launched into “Shoot to Thrill.” The set continued with “Sin City,” “Jailbreak,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “High Voltage,” and “Riff Raff,” giving longtime fans plenty to enjoy beyond the biggest staples.
The encore kept the night firmly in AC/DC territory with “T.N.T.,” with a massive firework show followed by “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You),” sending the crowd home with one final massive blast of confetti and a night to remember for sure classic rock.
For a band with more than five decades of history behind them, AC/DC’s Winnipeg show was a reminder that the band still have a massive impact, bringing in the new generation with fans in their early teens to even bringing back the older generation. For Winnipeg, the night also gave fans another look at The Pretty Reckless, which seems to be rapidly outgrowing the opening slot label. After seeing them here with Greta Van Fleet and now alongside AC/DC, the next time The Pretty Reckless come through Winnipeg, it may very well be their turn to headline. Also, this is a good chance for more stadium acts to finally head into the city. With the show being so put together for a pretty much close to a sold out show of over 40,000 fans, I can’t wait to see what next act plays at Princess Auto Stadium.
Words and photos by Mikey Jablonski
