Last Updated on September 3, 2026 by Meaghan Beavis
The Tragically Hip guitarist Paul Langlois joined fans in Kingston over the Forever Hip weekend as the city marked 10 years since the band’s final concert.
The Forever Hip celebrations included live performances, walking tours and a rebroadcast of the band’s 2016 hometown farewell concert.
Langlois had a chance to enjoy the festivities on Thursday night and witnessed local bands’ performances and sing-alongs pay tribute to The Tragically Hip.
“Thursday night was unbelievably crowded, and the vibe was excellent… It’s a bit surreal, but it’s a good feeling, and I feel grateful that that happened with us,” said Langlois.
Langlois reflected on their last show and the adoration the band received in an interview with YGK News.
“We weren’t even thinking that other people were out there watching. It was only a couple days after that I think we all started to realize, oh wait a minute, that was a little bigger than we thought it was going to be,” said Langlois.
“We didn’t really realize that all these people were going to watch, and it felt great to know that,“ Langlois continued.
Langlois shared what he believes the late Gord Downie, frontman of The Tragically Hip, would think of all the celebrations in their honour.
“I think he would like it. I think he would be honoured. But when he was alive, he didn’t want to stop. He just wanted to keep moving forward, and he didn’t want to look back,” said Langlois.
Local musicians showcased their talents over the weekend, performing original music and covers of The Tragically Hip.
“I mean there’s nothing but respect and admiration for other Kingston musicians, and I know a bunch of them because I’ve been here a lot of years,” said Langlois about the bands that paid tribute over the weekend.
Danika Lochhead, director, arts & culture services at the City of Kingston, spoke about the importance of The Tragically Hip and the Forever Hip weekend.
“Forever Hip is a chance to collectively express what The Tragically Hip means to us, and celebrate the musicians, artists and community members who continue to shape our city’s music community,” said Lochhead.
The weekend concluded with thousands of Hip fans gathering in Market Square to watch a CBC rebroadcast of The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration.
