The cozy confines of Winnipeg’s Park Theatre hosted an unforgettable evening on Monday, November 25, 2024, as The Homecoming Tour brought Canadian pop artists Alexander Stewart and Alex Sampson to the city for the first time. Both artists delivered dynamic performances that showcased their unique talents and deep connection with fans, marking the night as a special milestone in their careers.
All photos by Samuel Stevens.
Opening the evening, Alex Sampson greeted the crowd with palpable excitement, revealing that his last visit to Winnipeg had been as a concertgoer himself. Now, he stood center stage, captivating the audience with his warm vocals and relatable lyrics.
Sampson’s set opened with “Wallflower,” drawing the crowd into his heartfelt melodies and charming stage presence. Songs like “Want You” and “Friend Zone” brought energy and levity, while the tender delivery of “Lemonade” had fans swaying and singing along. A highlight was his soulful cover of Sabrina Carpenter's “Taste,” which he performed with a personal twist that made it his own.
Closing with “Blind,” Sampson left the crowd enamoured, his mix of raw emotion and boy-next-door charisma setting the perfect tone for the night.
Headliner Alexander Stewart transformed the intimate venue into a sanctuary of heartfelt anthems and emotional confessionals. His setlist, a masterclass in balancing raw vulnerability and pop brilliance, took fans on a journey from heartbreak to empowerment.
Stewart’s performance began with the fiery “Put You First” and the introspective “easier said than done,” immediately showcasing his vocal range and emotional depth. As he progressed through hits like “all these years” and the fan-favourite “reflection,” the audience was enraptured by his ability to convey deeply personal stories with universal resonance.
All photos by Samuel Stevens.
The acoustic segment of the night was particularly memorable. Stewart performed a tender rendition of “Aftermath” alongside a fan-selected cover of Katy Perry’s “The One That Got Away,” earning roaring applause. He also debuted an unreleased song, “Friends Don’t,” which he shared had only been played once before on the tour in Vancouver, adding an intimate, exclusive feel to the evening.
The latter half of the set included powerful tracks like “he never will” and “Backwards,” which ignited singalongs throughout the theatre. Stewart’s raw, emotional delivery of “blame’s on me” before the encore left the crowd momentarily breathless.
For the encore, Stewart brought the house down with the poignant “when you love someone” and the emotionally charged “i wish you cheated.” He closed the night with “broken by you,” leaving the audience in awe of his ability to turn pain into art.
The Homecoming Tour's Winnipeg stop was an evening of firsts, marking both artists' initial performances in the city and leaving an indelible mark on their growing legacies. Alex Sampson's genuine charm and catchy tunes paired seamlessly with Alexander Stewart's powerhouse vocals and emotional storytelling, creating a night of pure magic.
For fans, it was not just a concert but a collective experience of love, loss, and connection—proof that Winnipeg has officially become a home for these rising stars who have been travelling through the city in recent years.