Commodores - Toronto 2025

The Commodores brought a huge dose of classic funk and soul to Toronto's CNE Bandshell on August 24, 2025, proving that decades of musical history haven't taken away any of the band's ability to get a crowd moving. With the sun going down and thousands of people gathered at the Canadian National Exhibition, the setting was perfect for a night built around timeless grooves and familiar songs.

The set opened with “Easy,” immediately highlighting the smoother side of the Commodores before moving through “Sail On,” “Oh No,” “Just to Be Close to You,” “Zoom” and “Sweet Love.” These songs showed the band's remarkable range, moving effortlessly between soulful ballads and the funkier material that made them one of the defining groups of their era.

The energy picked up considerably with “Too Hot ta Trot” and “Machine Gun,” before the band launched into “Lady (You Bring Me Up).” From there came “Still,” “Three Times a Lady” and “Nightshift,” giving the audience another run of unforgettable songs before the inevitable finale.

“Brick House” was the perfect way to finish. The song remains one of the great live funk performances, and the CNE crowd responded accordingly. After more than five decades of music, the Commodores still have a catalog capable of keeping an outdoor festival audience singing and dancing.

The Toronto performance wasn't about nostalgia alone. It was a reminder that great funk and soul music doesn't have an expiration date. The Commodores delivered the songs with energy, musicianship and plenty of personality, making their 2025 CNE appearance a thoroughly enjoyable celebration of one of music's most enduring catalogs.