Performing “BILLY TALENT II” in full

with special guests HOLLERADO

This June marks the 20th anniversary of an already legendary album by one of Canada’s most famous rock bands: *Billy Talent II*, the self-titled second record from Billy Talent.
Originally formed in 1993 in their hometown of Mississauga, Ontario, under the name Pezz, the group—comprising Benjamin Kowalewicz (vocals), Ian D’Sa (guitar), Jonathan Gallant (bass), and Aaron Solowoniuk (drums)—rebranded as Billy Talent six years later. Two years after the name change, they released their debut EP, *Try Honesty*, paving the way to the pantheon of alternative rock—a realm where the Canadians firmly established themselves at the very top with their internationally acclaimed debut album, *Billy Talent*. Beyond their growing fame in their native Canada, Germany quickly became a key market where the band rapidly built a massive audience and a loyal fan base.
The band shares a special connection to Germany through their second full-length album, *Billy Talent II*: on the day of its release, Billy Talent performed at the Hurricane Festival in Scheeßel, celebrating the launch right there on stage. Now, 20 years later, the album’s anniversary is set to be celebrated in style at this year’s Hurricane Festival. The quartet is returning to Scheeßel for a headline show featuring the legendary album in full, alongside a selection of their greatest hits. Notably, *Billy Talent II* not only topped the German album charts but also earned the Canadian band two Echo Awards—one for “Most Successful International Newcomer” and another for “Best International Rock/Alternative Act.”
That same year, the band announced that founding member Aaron Solowoniuk had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He continued to play drums for the band for many years before taking a hiatus in 2016 following a flare-up of his condition, with Jordan Hastings stepping in to take his place. Upon announcing his diagnosis, the former drummer founded the F.U.MS. initiative—an acronym for “Fuck You Multiple Sclerosis”—which supports young people affected by the disease through benefit concerts, art events, and fundraising campaigns. Billy Talent themselves frequently perform at these benefit concerts and continue to support the initiative through fundraising efforts. Fans in Germany will soon have the chance to support the initiative by attending a very special kind of concert: to celebrate the anniversary of their hit album, the Canadian band will play two intimate club shows in Berlin and Cologne—ahead of their headline performances at the Hurricane and Southside festivals—with half of the ticket price going to F.U.MS. as a donation. After their German shows, Billy Talent won’t be taking a break; instead, they will head straight back to the studio to continue working on a new album.

Hollerado is an energetic Canadian indie rock and power pop band from Manotick, Ontario. Formed in 2007, the group is known for their DIY attitude, hook-filled choruses, and highly creative music videos, the band initially disbanded in 2019, but officially reunited in 2025 to tour and release new music