<h2 Toronto's Big Ticket Summer Concert Recap
The summer’s standout event on Family Channel was the Big Ticket Summer Concert, staged on Sunday, August 25 at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre in Toronto. It drew kids, tweens, and teens to a must-see show featuring four of today’s top talents, with the warmth and energy of a family-friendly festival. The performance lineup was introduced by the cast of Family Channel’s hit dance series, THE NEXT STEP.
THE NEXT STEP’s Lamar Johnson, Alexandra Beaton, Brittany Raymond, Trevor Tordjman, and Victoria Baldesarra welcomed each act to the stage, setting the tone for a night of big pop moments and polished choreography.
The evening opened with Canadian pop quartet Eleven Past One, who rolled out favorites such as “Tonight’s The Night” and “The World Is Ours.” Band members Daniel Richter, Stephen Richter, Kyle Bykiv, Dan Beattie, and Steve Patenaude brought a lively energy that had the crowd on their feet from the first chorus.
Eleven Past One energized the crowd with bright harmonies and punchy guitar hooks, the kind of infectious rhythm that makes an arena feel like a living room party.
The show continued with a burst of Canadian girl power as Victoria Duffield took the stage for a seven-song set. Highlights included her new single “We Takin’ Over” and her breakout hit “Shut Up and Dance,” which propelled the crowd into a chorus-ready frenzy.
Victoria Duffield delivered a confident performance that mixed pop finesse with playful stage presence, radiating the kind of girl-next-door charm that resonates with younger audiences.
Zendaya, the Shake It Up star, opened with “Swag It Out” and mixed songs from the show’s universe with material from her debut album. She performed tracks like “Fashion Is My Kryptonite” and the crowd-pleaser “Replay,” which ignited the venue into an enthusiastic sing-along.
Zendaya then treated the audience to a brief acoustic moment, including a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Leave Me Alone.” She spoke about her artistic influences and shared a smile-worthy note about Michael Jackson as her idol, saying that the classic image of joy in his work inspires her own stage presence and attitude. She also reminded fans of the line from Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile” that motivates her personal slogan: “don’t forget to smile.”
The energy intensified as the Lego Friends Dance Crew emerged before the finale, followed by a dynamic dance routine from THE NEXT STEP cast that echoed moments from the show itself.
R5 then took the stage, with siblings Riker, Rocky, Ross, and Rydel Lynch, joined by Ellington Ratliff. The group delivered a full set that included “Forever Girl,” “Pass Me By,” “Say You’ll Stay,” “Loud,” and the Austin & Ally theme song “Can’t Do It Without You.” The crowd rose to meet every chorus, proving the band’s appeal cuts across generations.
Fans who could not attend were treated to a broadcast of the Toronto highlights on Family Channel on Friday, September 6 at 8 p.m. ET. For viewers in Calgary, R5 and Eleven Past One were slated to perform at MacEwan Hall on Saturday, September 7, with Tyler Shaw, Veronica, and THE NEXT STEP’s Brittany Raymond and Trevor Tordjman joining as special guests.
Ross Lynch of R5 flashed a hand heart to his fans as the set drew to a close, and the entire stadium shared in the palpable excitement of the moment. The organizers closed by teasing next year’s edition of the Big Ticket Summer Concert, inviting fans to stay tuned for more family-friendly pop magic.