Canadian rock legends Triumph are charting an innovative course for their return to the stage, as drummer and vocalist Gil Moore recently revealed in an interview with “Metal Express Radio.” Moving beyond traditional live performances, the band is actively developing a high-tech, “mixed reality” concert experience designed to bring their classic sound to fans in a groundbreaking new format.
This ambitious vision was recently put to the test during a three-song reunion performance on June 6th, 2025, at the Rogers Festival At The Final in Edmonton, Alberta. The show saw Moore and Triumph guitarist/vocalist Rik Emmett joined by an expanded lineup featuring guitarist Phil X, drummer/keyboardist Brent Fitz, and bassist/vocalist Todd Kerns. Moore confirmed the Edmonton set served as a crucial trial, stating (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “One of the reasons we did that [performance in Edmonton] was to get Todd Kerns and Brent Fitz on stage with Phil and Rik and myself and see how it went, and do some rehearsing together and stuff. It went extremely well.”
For the past five years, Moore has been meticulously collaborating with Paul Dexter, Triumph‘s long-time lighting designer from Masterworks Lighting in Los Angeles, to conceive this pioneering show. The core idea is to leverage advanced technology, combining virtual and physical elements to create an immersive narrative. This approach aims to allow “an older band” like Triumph to address fan demand for touring, while also incorporating new musicians into the live experience. The Edmonton performance, for instance, saw the deliberate pairing of Rik Emmett and Phil X – Triumph‘s last guitarist after Emmett‘s initial departure – a “double barrel shotgun” approach that Moore described as “a lot of fun.”
The overarching goal is to craft a show that tells the entire Triumph story through innovative visuals and sound. Moore elaborated: “We’re going to combine, the elements, I think, from that band with the mixed reality elements that Paul has been working on with me in the conceptual sense. And we’re trying to create a narrative that really tells the story of Triumph within a show.” At the heart of this narrative lies a message of “positivity in music,” drawing inspiration from classic Triumph anthems. Concepts like “Never Surrender” and “Fight The Good Fight” will be used as thematic levers, guiding audiences towards positive outcomes through the power of music.
While acknowledging the grand scale of the project – “I know that kind of sounds like a lot, and maybe we’re overreaching a little bit,” Moore admitted – he emphasized the band’s commitment to pushing boundaries. “Sometimes if you don’t try things, well, then you know what’s gonna happen — nothing’s gonna happen. In our case, there’s no certainty to this, but it’s an experiment that we’re working on and we’re gonna take it forward. This was a great first step, playing in Edmonton.” Fans can anticipate forthcoming announcements regarding the project’s next steps.
Notably, bassist Mike Levine was unable to participate in the Edmonton reunion due to an unreschedulable doctor’s appointment. The Edmonton show followed Triumph‘s previous invite-only three-song performance in November 2019 at MetalWorks studio in Mississauga, Ontario. That event, which saw Moore, Emmett, and Levine play “When The Lights Go Down,” “Lay It On The Line,” and “Magic Power,” marked the band’s first live appearance in 11 years and their first as a pure three-piece power trio in 31 years. Portions of that intimate performance were later featured in the critically acclaimed 2021 documentary, “Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine“.
