From left: bassist John “JC” Calabrese, frontman Danko Jones, and drummer Rich Knox.
Is rock 'n' roll dead? Danko Jones clearly hasn't heard that. With their new album *Leo Rising* in tow, the power trio from Toronto returns to the Dynamo in Zurich on Sunday, October 25, 2026. And on Monday, July 13, they’ll share the stage with Deep Purple at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Frontman Danko Jones, bassist John “JC” Calabrese, and drummer Rich Knox have earned an outstanding reputation as a live band through countless tours, not least alongside giants like Guns N’ Roses, Motörhead, and the Rolling Stones. While other bands reinvent their style every few years, the Canadians prefer to refine their craft—and they always do so at full volume.
“Leo Rising” is already the band’s twelfth studio album and seamlessly continues the strong run of recent years. Following “Power Trio” (2021) and “Electric Sounds” (2023), the lion roars once again: Eleven songs, no filler, maximum energy. Right from the opener, “What You Need,” the band sets the tone with thunderous force for what’s to come: heavy riffs, big choruses, and that signature Danko Jones swing. On “Diamond In The Rough,” a prominent guest also provides a highlight, as guitar legend Marty Friedman contributes a solo. From driving hard-rock anthems to punk-infused catchy tunes, the album showcases the band at its best, true to its one, unwavering mission: keeping rock alive.
The new songs really come into their own on stage. Danko Jones are one of those rare bands that play every venue with the same passion, whether it’s a club or a festival. Their shows are loud, sweaty, and full of joy, driven by a trio that has been steadfastly forging its own path for years. So if you’re in the mood for an evening of honest, uncompromising rock music, you know exactly where you need to be on the last Sunday in October 2026: right in the thick of it, when the kings of rock ’n’ roll make the Dynamo shake.