Seeing Rush perform again—especially with a new drummer—is something many fans thought might never happen after the passing of Neil Peart. Their performance at the Juno Awards 2026 at TD Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada was nothing short of exciting. Rush opened the Juno Awards on Sunday, March 29, with a performance of ‘Finding My Way,’ the first song off of their first album. Having Anika Nilles sit behind the drums was an inspired choice. She has a very different style from Peart—more modern fusion and groove-oriented—but she’s technically brilliant and brings a lot of musicality. In situations like this, most fans don’t expect anyone to replace Peart. Instead, the best approach is exactly what you described: bring fresh energy while respecting the legacy. 🥁 Also, the fact that Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are still delivering strong performances at 72 is impressive. Rush always pushed musical boundaries, so having a creative drummer like Nilles pushing them a bit on stage actually feels very in-character for the band.
Rush comes from an era where musicianship and individuality mattered a lot. Those bands from the 70’s shaped my listening habits early, I learned to appreciate a performance where skill and chemistry are front and center rather than production tricks. 🎸
Totally looking forward to see them live at the Lanxess Arena, Cologne in 2027.
