Thanks For Coming Tour: Rainbow Kitten Surprise and New Translations - Winnipeg, MB

For a city that prides itself on embracing genre-defying music, Winnipeg got exactly what it craved when Rainbow Kitten Surprise brought their long-awaited Thanks For Coming Tour to the Burton Cummings Theatre on May 14, 2025. Making their debut in the city alongside up-and-coming openers New Translations, the show was not only a sonic spectacle—it was a full-blown spiritual experience that left a packed house on their feet, breathless and begging for more.

New Translations. Photos by Samuel Stevens.

Opening the night was New Translations, an experimental indie rock outfit quickly gaining traction for their shapeshifting sound and magnetic stage presence. From the very first notes of “Post Hang,” it was clear this band wasn't just there to warm up the crowd—they were also there to make a statement.

Bouncing between groovy, synth-drenched textures (“BXS”), gritty rock anthems (“Sheriff”), and emotionally vulnerable cuts like “Coldest” and “Who Am I,” the band crafted a set that was as eclectic as it was cohesive. Frontman Oliver Pierce's vocals soared and cracked in all the right places, while the band behind them delivered tight, dynamic performances that made songs like “Love Bombb” and “Wallflowers” stick long after the final note.

By the time New Translations closed their set with the haunting “Wallflowers,” they had undoubtedly earned a few hundred new fans. Not bad for a first visit to Winnipeg. Then came the moment the sold-out crowd had been waiting for. As the lights dimmed and Rainbow Kitten Surprise took the stage to a roar of anticipation, the theatre instantly transformed into a kaleidoscope of sound and emotion. Kicking off with the thumping beat of “Espionage,” the band wasted no time in proving why they’ve cultivated one of the most passionate fan bases in alternative music today. From the first lyric to the last song in the encore, vocalist Ela Melo captivated the crowd with theatricality and charisma, moving like a force of nature across the stage. Her voice—alternating between smooth croons and raspy crescendos—was as much an instrument as the strings and synths that swirled around it.

Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Photos by Samuel Stevens.

Fan favourites like “Cocaine Jesus,” “Matchbox,” and “When It Lands” drew euphoric sing-alongs, while newer cuts like “SVO” and “Cold Love” proved the band’s ability to evolve without losing their core identity. “Meticulous” and “Fever Pitch” pulsated with rhythmic urgency, but it was “Painkillers” and “Devil Like Me” that struck deep emotional chords, the former unfolding like a sermon and the latter met with almost religious reverence from the audience.

The production was equally impressive—tasteful lighting design gave the performance a cinematic feel, while moments of stillness (“Hide,” “Goodnight Chicago”) contrasted beautifully with the chaotic joy of “Dang” and “Wasted.”

By the time the main set closed with the anthemic “Run,” the energy in the theatre was uncontainable. Still, the crowd wasn't going anywhere. When the band returned for the encore, the applause was deafening. They launched into the emotionally loaded title track, “Thanks for Coming,” a fitting nod to the tour’s name and the unifying power of live music. Finally, as the haunting first chords of “It’s Called: Freefall” rang out, time seemed to stop. The crowd sang every word with tearful intensity, turning the closing number into a shared catharsis that transcended performance.

For their first time in Winnipeg, Rainbow Kitten Surprise didn’t just perform—they connected. With a soul-baring setlist, powerful, yet colourful visuals, and an audience that reciprocated every ounce of energy given, the night felt less like a concert and more like a communal reckoning. New Translations brought the spark. Rainbow Kitten Surprise set the fire. Winnipeg will be burning with that memory for a long, long time.