Grandson Performs Free Concert Benefiting the CAMH Foundation

When grandson announced his free Toronto pop-up to celebrate the release of his first independent album Inertia on September 11, word spread fast among the city’s regular concertgoers. Hosting it at the unique venue Expo Vintage ensured fans were in for something unforgettable. More than just a concert, the night doubled as the launch of the Community Gardens Project and a fundraiser for the CAMH Foundation. Hours before doors opened, fans were already lined up outside in anticipation.

Expo Vintage, a thrift-style shop with graffiti-splashed walls and a skateboard half-pipe as the makeshift stage, set the tone immediately: gritty, intimate, and unconventional with hundreds of people packed inside. The front rows pressed so close to the band you could reach out and touch them, while those further back found breathing room near the drink and merch area.

Chants of “grandson!” echoed before the first note, and when the set kicked off around 9 p.m., the room erupted. He opened with “Bury You” and “Oh No!!!,” instantly igniting the crowd before rolling into more fan favorites. Heat rose fast, sweat dripping as mosh pits broke out multiple times. At one point, members of the band even made their way into the heart of the crowd, instruments in hand, jamming shoulder-to-shoulder with fans. Grandson wasted no time showcasing Inertia, released just six days earlier. “Brain Rot,” “Self-Immolation,” and the live debut of “Autonomous Delivery Robots” hit especially hard, their fury amplified by the intimate setting. Longtime fans weren’t forgotten, older material blended seamlessly into the set. Near the end, he handed out water bottles to the crowd, only to turn them into props for the explosive finale: “Blood // Water.” As the chorus hit, bottles burst open, spraying the room in a chaotic, refreshing release.

Beyond the music, grandson leaned into the night’s purpose: raising money for CAMH Foundation’s Community Gardens Project. Entry was free, but donations were encouraged, and even merch profits, from boxes of shirts he joked had been “sitting in my mom’s house for five years”, went directly to charity.

Between songs, he reflected on the fractured political climate in North America, urging fans to resist division and stay united. For fans, it was a rare chance to experience grandson at his rawest and closest. For Toronto, it was a reminder that music can still be a force for connection and change.

With Inertia, grandson steps boldly into independence and nights like this prove that the real victory lies in creating spaces where music fuels unity, catharsis, and community.

You can listen to Inertia below on Spotify & Apple Music.