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When High Valley hits the stage Friday night at Summer in the City in Steinbach, fans can expect more than just great music—expect a full-on, family-style sing-along. Lead singer Brad Rempel says it’s going to be a lot of fun, describing the show as “kind of a big group karaoke session.”
It’s been a while since High Valley played in southern Manitoba, and the band is looking forward to the return—not just for the music, but because it feels like coming home. Rempel shared that all his family’s from Winkler and the surrounding area, and anytime they play in southern Manitoba, it feels as close to a hometown show as it gets. He even mentioned hoping to stop by the Mennonite Heritage Village, a spot he remembers visiting as a kid.
One of High Valley’s most beloved tracks, “Young Forever”, feels tailor-made for summer nights like this one. With its road trip energy and nostalgic lyrics, the song was inspired by a beach trip with close friends and family. He explained that while watching their kids play football on the sand from a balcony, the idea came naturally: “Man, I wish they could stay young forever.”
Despite the theme, Rempel joked that the idea of staying young forever isn’t exactly rooted in reality since he’s now 40. Still, the sentiment behind it holds true—and it’s a theme that runs throughout much of High Valley’s music: the beauty of family, the passing of time, and hanging on to life’s simple, fleeting moments.
As a husband and father of two, Rempel draws heavily from family life for his songwriting. From late-night living room chats to coaching his sons’ sports teams, he admits they hang out together “like crazy” and that his wife and kids inspire almost every song.
That balance between home life and music has shifted over the years. High Valley, now going strong for 28 years, has scaled back the heavy touring in favor of being home more often. He said that when his oldest turned 12, his focus shifted to his son’s dreams rather than his own. Thankfully, music has continued to provide for the family, and now most of the year is spent writing songs for others. Every year or so, the band tours for about 30 days, which he compared to farming—working all year and then harvesting when the season comes.
Fans can look forward to a new single from High Valley by the end of summer, a new album in the works, and a tour planned for 2026. And yes—“Young Forever” is on the setlist for Friday night’s show. “Now we’ve got to make sure it’s in there,” he added.
With Father’s Day on Sunday, the Rempel family plans to spend the day at a baseball tournament for the youngest son. There’s also one traditional request: a special chocolate bar from ALDI—60% dark, 40% milk chocolate with almonds. That’s the annual go-to gift for birthdays, Christmas, and Father’s Day.
Music runs in the family, too. One son is into hip hop, while the other prefers the emo-Americana vibe of artists like Zach Bryan and Noah Kahan.
And with the Stanley Cup finals underway, there’s another thing keeping excitement levels high. Rempel is cheering for the Edmonton Oilers, especially since longtime friend Corey Perry is on the team. If the Oilers win, he’s invited to the Stanley Cup party—so there’s a little extra incentive for that victory.
Catch High Valley this Friday night on the Main Stage at Summer in the City. The weather looks perfect, the crowd will be loud, and everyone will be singing along under the stars.
🎶 As long as we’re together… we’ll stay young forever.