54-40 with Kandle at The Danforth Music Hall

54-40 is still packing them in after four decades of music and touring. Saturday night in Toronto, the Danforth Music Hall was brimming with excited fans ready to rock the night away with this beloved Canadian band.

Neil Osborne came on stage early to announce the opening act, his daughter Kandle and her band. Their set was a tight collection of songs evoking a dreamy, atmospheric soundscape punctuated with pop sensibilities. Kandle’s stage presence was engaging as danced and swayed to the music. She interacted with the audience between songs as she fed off the vibe in the room.

For the last few songs, Kandle picked up her guitar which she told everyone was made by and given to her by Jack White when hers failed during an opening set for Mr. White. She debuted one of her new songs while showcasing her guitar skills on the beautiful work of art.

The crowd was enthusiastic when 54-40 took to the stage, there was a tangible buzz in the air. The band dove right into an explosive set that started with Lies To Me and a rousing rendition of Nice To Luv You. It was inevitably the start of what would be a great night.

Earlier, Neil was foreshadowing by wearing a Porto FC scarf where the band just had a wonderful time recording their upcoming album Porto which is scheduled for a January 2026 release. Three songs from Porto were sprinkled among the band’s classics. Running for the Fences, Time Will Tell and Virgil all showed that the band’s songwriting abilities are as captivating as ever.

The rest of the setlist was filled with many of the greatest songs this prolific ensemble has created. Baby Ran, Radio Luv Song, One Day In Your Life, She La and Ocean Pearl were all massive hits and they are still fan favourites to this day. Casual Viewin’ had the crowd singing along to the chorus at which point Neil shifted gears into another memorable song, Have You Ever Seen The Rain. Everybody loves Creedence!

For the encore Neil strode out from backstage, solo with an acoustic guitar. Serenading the first few bars of Alcohol Heart before being joined by Kandle to help with the rest of the song. The two of them sharing a special bond of father and daughter, singer and songwriter. They segued into the Everly Brothers’ track Love Hurts which was immortalized by Jim Capaldi and Nazareth.

That was just the beginning of a memorable encore that also included I Go Blind and then spreading more mutual affection with Love You All before careening into another timeless Canadian tune, Rockin’ In The Free World. Needless to say the crowd went home grinning ear to ear with a full heart.

54•40’s new album PORTO, will be released on January 23, 2026. Pre-Order/Save –https://lnk.to/5440PORTO

Connect with 54•40: Website || Facebook || Instagram

Be sure to check out Collective Concerts to see what other great acts they will be bringing to Toronto this year.