Trooper and Kim Mitchell

On February 8, 2026, Molson Canadian Centre in Moncton hosts a double bill with Trooper and Kim Mitchell.

A guitarist, singer and songwriter from Sarnia, Ontario, Kim Mitchell first came to prominence in the mid-1970s as the frontman of Max Webster, a Toronto-rooted rock outfit built on big riffs and hook-forward writing with lyricist Pye Dubois. After the group split in 1981, he launched a solo path with a self-titled EP in 1982, then Akimbo Alogo in 1984, followed by Shakin’ Like a Human Being and Rockland. His records lean toward melodic, radio-ready rock and hard rock, with a direct vocal tone and accessible structures shaped by the 70s and 80s. Later releases include the live I Am a Wild Party, Aural Fixations, Itch, Kimosabe, Ain’t Life Amazing, and The Big Fantasize in 2020 with producer Greg Wells. Alongside touring and studio work, he also spent time on Toronto radio.

Formed in the mid-1990s in Târgoviște, Romania, Trooper blends classic heavy metal foundations with a melodic edge. Led by vocalist Alin "Coiotu" Dincă, with guitars from Aurelian Dincă and Cristian Oftez, the band builds fast, riff-driven songs that nod to traditional metal and hard rock, with occasional touches of power metal. Their lyrics, in Romanian and English, move between everyday life and more reflective themes. A stable core with drummer Ionuț "Oscar" Covalciuc and bassist Ionuț Rădulescu has helped keep a recognizable sound across albums and steady touring.