PNE Summer Night Concerts 2025 – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s show at the Pacific Coliseum on August 17 felt like a family reunion for classic rock fans. The Southern rock pioneers, now 50 years on from their landmark debut, brought a setlist stacked with songs that still define the genre, and the Vancouver crowd responded in kind, some dancing in the aisles, others just soaking up the nostalgia.

The band’s current lineup, fronted by Johnny Van Zant with Rickey Medlocke, Damon Johnson, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, and backing vocalists Carol Chase and Stacy Michelle, carried the Skynyrd legacy with grit and polish. While there are no original members left onstage, the spirit of the music remains intact. Tracks like “What’s Your Name” and “Workin’ for MCA” set the tone early, tight and confident, with guitar licks sharp enough to cut through the arena air.

Mid-set, “That Smell” landed with particular weight, a song forever tied to late founding member Gary Rossington, whose shadow still lingers over the band. The audience sang along to “Tuesday’s Gone” and swayed to “Simple Man,” both delivered with a sincerity that reminded everyone why these songs endure.

Of course, the crowd truly lit up once the familiar chords of “Sweet Home Alabama” rang out. For a few minutes, the Pacific Coliseum turned into one big Southern block party. And then came the inevitable closer: “Free Bird.” That legendary solo still hit like a freight train, closing the night with the kind of catharsis only rock and roll can provide.

Fifty years later, Lynyrd Skynyrd isn’t reinventing the wheel. They don’t need to. They’re keeping the fire burning, and for fans in Vancouver, that was more than enough.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer