Canadian folk punk artist Greg Rekus just wrapped his 14th European tour, covering 11 countries between mid-April and mid-May 2025. Playing everything from freezing brewery courtyards in Luxembourg to punk squats in the Czech Republic, Rekus leaned once again into his philosophy of DIT—Do It Together—not DIY.
“If you include all the times I’ve toured with my old punk band, High Five Drive, this is Europe trip number 14! I love it here!” he said. The latest run started after a rerouted spring in Canada. Denied a U.S. work visa due to bureaucratic delays, he instead carved out a spontaneous tour across Ontario, teaming up with Fast Eddie from Toronto for a “March Madness” run. “Perhaps the drives were bigger, and the crowds and payouts smaller, but it was great,” he wrote. “It was the perfect warm up for the European tour ahead.”
Flying in with vinyl packed in a pillow
Flying budget via Air Transat—“the kings of the low cost airlines”—Greg employed his well-honed travel hacks: 50 vinyl records in a backpack, another 25 in a pillow. Landing again at Terminal 3 in Charles de Gaulle Airport, he described it as “tiny” and “crappy,” noting that it’s become a jarring first impression for many visiting Paris for the first time.
France came with familiar rhythms. Shows in Douai, Le Havre, Tours, La Rochelle, and other cities brought decent crowds, kind hosts, and consistent meals. “France has always been good to me,” he said, though he admitted to bluffing through conversations in French “like a crossword where you have less than half the letters.”
Italy: pasta, late trains, and a wet cape of pizza
Italy started with a jam space show in Torino, supported by friends in Menegramo, followed by stops in Vercilli, Bergamo, Verona, and Morrovalle. “Verona I spent 2 days in, with my good buddy Tommi GB,” Greg wrote. “Tommi can put a smile on anyone’s face.” The east coast train down to Morrovalle took twelve hours and three transfers, but the punk-themed bar Drunk in Public made it worth it.
Food-wise, pasta topped his list, but vegan options were hit or miss. “Pizza traditionally doesn’t have cheese on it,” he noted. “But to be honest, cheeseless pizza is more of a ‘fancy bread’ vibe than a pizza vibe.” Thin crusts loaded with vegetables often collapsed into “a soggy bread stick with a wet cape.”
Croatia and Serbia: punk scenes and border crossings
In Kutina and Zagreb, Rekus reconnected with the Croatian punk band Trophy Jump, whom he met at Fest 2022. “Despite many people in the scene not being super religious, the next day, Easter Sunday, is still an extremely tough day to find a show anywhere,” he said. So instead, a friend shot a live video of him playing next to street art.
By the time he reached Novi Sad, Serbia, Rekus was hoarse. Still, some remembered him from his previous visit. The local context was heavier: “The roof collapsed after [the station] re-opened, killing about 20 children,” he noted of a recent tragedy caused by state neglect. “The people want change.”
Austria: voice gone, burritos on deck
Austria saw just two shows—Graz and Vienna—with his voice nearly gone. The Vienna host allowed him a rest day, which brought in a surprise cameo from Jack Holmes, a longtime friend turned stand-up comedian. “Jack is also the top vegan burrito chef on planet earth,” Greg wrote. “He made me the most amazing pair of burritos.”
Switzerland: small towns and freezing rivers
Switzerland began with the most expensive train ride of the tour, ending in St. Gallen where he was greeted by BBQ, beers, and friends. “My voice was about 70% by this point.” He hit Bad Ragaz next. “They even built a little stage for me, similar to what I tour with in North America.”
In Bern and Burgdorf, he reunited with old friend Rufi (aka Migre le Tigre), who organized a Monday night show with Flo Lebeau and fellow Canadian Rob Moir. “We all sounded great,” Greg wrote. “Despite being a Monday, we still got a bunch of people out.”
Later, they made tacos, cooked vegan bratwurst by the river, and Greg dipped his feet in the freezing water—“really brave by my standards.”
Czech Republic: loud squats and odd police
In Czechia, Greg played in Klatovy and at the long-running DIY Fest Cesta in Tabor. He had to cut his set short when police came three times due to volume. A day earlier, police boarded his train and questioned whether the phone he was holding was actually his.
The drive to Tabor included a traffic stop with a drug test and a fine over a highway sticker. “Could always be worse…”
Germany: squats, birthdays, and grocery stores
Germany began with a May 1st show in Singen, followed by a set at Tees Tube squat. In Berlin, Neurepublik hosted him on a double-booked Monday. “They let me play, but just with no PA,” he recalled. “I even sang happy birthday on kazoo to the birthday person, who looked less than impressed the entire time.”
Hamburg brought a solid turnout at Cafe Feuerwache. Later stops in Trier and Saarbrücken involved indoor smoke, neighbors complaining, and in Saarbrücken, Greg literally stomped through the stage.
Netherlands and Luxembourg: old friends and cold nights
Nijmegen was a one-off in the Netherlands, hosted by Willem from Antillectual. “Cafe de Opstand… second time having me. The sound was great as was the food, drink and people.” Luxembourg was colder—“something like twelve degrees celsius”—but manageable. “Once I get going, my act is like doing aerobics when singing and I keep pretty toasty anyways.”
Belgium and back to Canada
Final stop: Mons, Belgium. He played outside the bar with no PA, despite a voice worn out from smoke. “A true test of how far I can push my forty three year old body.”
A day off in Paris closed it out. “I found a cheap hotel close to the airport that has a really cool shower,” he wrote. Then came a flight to Montreal, dinner with family, and the long drive home to Winnipeg.
“This tour was my fourteenth Europe tour. I’ve done Paris on all scales of budgets… But my honest favourite thing to do is grab a bottle of wine and just sit by the river and enjoy the fact I’m in one of the coolest cities on earth.”
The full tour spanned Italy, Croatia, Serbia, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, and France. A classic Rekus run: bus rides, long train changes, food improvisation, border shuffles, voice loss, and solidarity in sound.
Read the full tour log and experience each show in Greg Rekus’ own words below!
Greg Rekus – Full Tour Journal
Canada
I’ve done the same tour route for the last 15 years in the spring. Despite seeming like a creature of spontaneity to outside observers, living moment to moment… I’m more a creature of habit in all honesty. Finding something that works, and sticking with it. Anyone in the Midwest USA who knows me, and has booked me a show, usually expects me in early March. Rolling through their city or town to play a show for them on my way to Montreal, to fly to Europe.
Despite being utterly horrified by the actions of the current administration in the states, my friends down there are important to me. I will always come play for them no matter who’s in charge of the damn country. Times like these, playing for friends isn’t just about entertainment. It’s about a show of solidarity; That they aren’t alone, abandoned in the giant USA nowhere land. Despite being the land of the free, a work Visa isn’t as easy to get as it used to be. No matter how much I wanted to go, the wait to get a Visa from the underfunded immigration office just kept going up – Six months to eight months to ten months. I did not get the Visa in time, and I was forced to cancel my 2025 winter and spring USA dates.
Despite having meticulously carved out the perfect tour route via the USA to Montreal, I was destined in to brave the journey through northern Ontario. Don’t get me wrong, I love Canada, but the roads and weather can be unkind and there aren’t tons of places to play. However, friends to the rescue! I will pause this story to say how amazing the people in my life are. Everyone says I’m the king of DIY touring but I argue it’s not DIY at all. It’s DIT: Do It Together. Once it became obvious that my paperwork would not be ready for March, I sent off a bunch of emails to book last minute shows. Before I knew it, I had shows in Kenora, Fort Francis, Thunder Bay, Sault Saint Marie, Sudbury, and a ton in the GTA. I even jumped on a mini “March Madness” tour with my friend Fast Eddie from Toronto. Perhaps the drives were bigger, and the crowds and payouts smaller, but it was great! I was really happy with how well the spontaneous Canadian spring tour turned out and it was the perfect warm up for the European tour ahead.
France
Who is one of the cheapest airlines who fly from Canada to Europe? Air transat baby! The kings of the low cost airlines. I think it even says on the ticket in the bottom corner really small: “It’ll be fine…” I’ve learned a few secrets over the years. First. They charge for every piece of luggage you “check”, But still allow a carry on, and a “personal item” for free. It’s amazing how a box of 25 vinyl can fit easily into a backpack, and another box of 25 vinyl can fit in a pillow.
Perhaps it looks a bit awkward, as I pretend the pillow doesn’t weigh like 10kg… but after multiple Europe tours, this tactic has never failed. Landing at terminal three in CDG for the 14th time, I’m still surprised how small it is. I’ve heard people have actually had to go to therapy from the shock. Seriously! Well not just the terminal. They wait their entire lives to visit amazing Paris! The city of love! Then you arrive at a tiny crappy airport. Collect your luggage. Either grab a cab for 79€ to get to the city, or brave the metro for €29 and about an hour of shuffling your luggage as a million people get on and off. Flixbus was my preferred way of European travel for years.
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You can toss your luggage in the hold under the bus and off you go. Similar to air travel however, Flix now charge for every piece of luggage you bring. My 5E bus ride is now 75E bus ride after I pay for three pieces of luggage and a guitar. Also, I’ve notice the toilet on the bus is generally out of order more than half the time. Me being an old man with a weak bladder and questionable guts, an available toilet is always comforting. The train it is then! A short train ride to Lille. A stop at a hardware store to grab a piece of wood to haul all around Europe and stomp on. A fourteen hour nap, to get over the jet lag. I was ready! France has always been good to me. I do speak some French. Not enough to turn heads or anything. But every tour I get a little bit more comfortable.
I’ll admit a lot of the time I’m kinda guessing what people are telling me. Kinda like a crossword where you have less than half the letters for a word and take a shot at it. Shows in France have always been solid. Generally good turnouts. Generous pay. Usually a few merch sales. Always a place to stay and something to eat. All you need to get you to the next town. I’ve also been very lucky with all the friends I made. Aside from Lille, I found shows this tour in Douai, Le Havre, Amiens, Tours, La Rochelle, Toulouse, Alres and Grenoble.
Italy
Despite my complaining about the bus, sometimes it is actually the better choice. Or only choice… Also sometimes, you can get lucky, and the driver doesn’t care that you have as much luggage and the next 5 people getting on. This was the case on my way to Torino in Italy. The first show was at a jam space. My good buddies in Menegramo played, and a ton of their friends came.
Vercilli was the next day at a really cool squat kinda place, and Beer Bounch near Bergamo the day after. Verona I spent 2 days in, with my good buddy Tommi GB. Tommi can put a smile on anyone’s face and is gotta be one of the kindest people I’ve met. First day in Verona I played live on the radio. Second day was the official show at a cool little bar. Up to this point travel was reasonable. Short train journeys mostly. Not anymore however. Almost half way down the east coast of Italy was the next show after Verona in Morrovalle. I mean, a beautiful journey! But twelve hours and three changes is a lot to endue. It was worth it though! Drunk in Public, where I played, was an awesome 90’s Punk themed bar and the owner was super nice.
Spilembergo was the final Italy date at Bierra Monsieur D. Again a bit of a far journey, but nothing I can’t handle. I wouldn’t say Italy is winning any awards for their trains running on time…. But if all of them are late, you never miss your connection! How can talk about Italy with talking about food? My favourite all time thing to eat is pasta. I love creative approaches with how to prepare it and what sauce or seasonings to put on it. In the end Pasta with Tomato is the best way to have it. I don’t like all Italian food however. It’s mostly my fault. I eat Vegan. I have for almost 20 years now.
This severely limits the amazing food I get to try, as so much of Europe is meat and cheese. Italy is no different. Pizza traditionally doesn’t have cheese on it. Like wayyyyy back traditionally… I have enjoyed it cheeseless… but to be honest, cheesiness pizza more of a “fancy bread” vibe than a pizza vibe. The other style that I’ve been fed many times is the very very thin kind of pizza. The problem is when you hold the cheese and put a bunch of veggies on it, it gets quite liquidly. As opposed to a nice firm crisp piece of thin pizza with a think crust on the back of the slice, you get a soggy bread stick with a wet cape.
Croatia
I met an awesome punk band at Fest in 2022 called Trophy Jump from Zagreb, Croatia. The following year in 2023, Antum, the singer of Trophy Jump, helped organize shows in Kutina and Zagreb. Both shows were great and I’ve played Croatia every year since. This time around in 2025 I was in the area during Easter weekend.
I was able to squeeze onto a show on Saturday in Kutina. The only down side was about fourteen hours of travel and a 6am start to make it in time to play. Despite many people in the scene not being super religious, the next day, Easter Sunday, is still an extremely tough day to find a show anywhere. Trying to make the best of every day on tour a friend of a friend shot a live video of me playing outside next to some cool wall art. Monday I played a tiny bar in Zagreb called Bunt.
About thirty people squeezed in. About thirty one of them were smoking. Despite what I think was maybe my best vocal performance of the whole tour. It was the end of my voice for a few days.
Serbia
As far as I know, the bus is the only way to get from Zagreb – Novi Sad in Serbia. The bus journey was not that bad actually. Serbia is not part of the EU so it’s an actual border. Perhaps if I was in a car with a bunch of gear, I would draw more attention to myself. On the bus I’m one of fifty people who all kinda look a bit odd.
The border guards only took a quick look at the luggage compartment. Shruged. And off we went! It was my second time in Novi Sad. Same bar. Pero. A cool little place that has a small stage for DJs or Acoustic act like myself. Some people even remembered me from last time. My voice was pretty rough, but I was able to bark out a few songs and we all still had fun.
There were a bunch of protests going on all over Serbia which boiled down to government corruption. Kinda the flavour of the decade…. The government took a bunch of money to fix up the train station in Novi Sad and ended up doing nothing but slapping some paint on the walls. Nothing was done about the crumbling infrastructure of the building. The roof collapsed after it re opened, killing about 20 children. Awful, and my heart goes out to the families and the friends of the victims in this horrible tragedy.
The protests have been going on for months. The people want change. I’m not so naive that I think by the time I come back everything will be fixed. But it gives hope that if people organize and push and push, something is going to change.
Austria
Austria used to be one of the biggest stops on the tour. If you rewind the clock back about 13 years, I would be on tour with Migre le Tigre. A former member of one of the biggest Austrian punk band from the last 20 years called Rentokill. My former band, High Five Drive, toured with Rentokill several times in Europe. Not to over sell it, but Migre and me were somewhat recognized as a potential interesting act to check out at the time.
People get older. People have kids. People move on. Scenes kinda come in waves and this time around I only had a show in Graz and one in Vienna. I’m still not quite sure how I made it through the Graz show. I could barely talk. It’s kinda funny how on tour 2 days ago I was at the top of my game. Now 48 hours later I had no voice and could barely perform. Luckily the next day the show was going to be a very very small show and the super kind host didn’t mind if we called it off, and I could have a day to rest.
Enter Jack Holmes. Jack has been an amazing friend for a long time and has kinda transitioned from Folk Punk artist to comedian. He said people liked it more when he talked between songs, than the songs themselves… so he just kinda went with it. Jack is also the top vegan burrito chief on planet earth and made me the most amazing pair of burritos. One before I chugged a bottle of NyQuil to knock me out for 12 hours to try to heal. One for the journey tomorrow to Switzerland.
Switzerland
Vienna – St Gallen CH. The most expensive train journey of the entire trip. My good friend Martin picked me up from the train station in St Gallen when I arrived, and brought me to his house in the country.
A bunch of his friends were already drinking beer and eating BBQ when we arrived, ready to sing and dance all night. My voice was about 70% by this point so I was able to pull off a decent show and had a blast. Switzerland I feel is like a lot of places. The big cities aren’t where the good shows are, and you gotta find all the tiny places with awesome music scenes.
Bad Ragaz, the next day, is exactly that. Beatz is the name of the bar I think I’ve played now 5 times. They ever built a little stage for me, similar to what I tour with in North America to stomp on. By this point my voice was back up to almost full strength.
Bern, the day after, I ended up on a show with a bunch of punk bands and opened up. Always great playing with bands when you are a solo act. You always have the biggest crowd of the night. Bergdorf, I saw my good friend Rufi. Aka Migre le Tigre. He put together an awesome show for myself, Flo Lebeau and Rob Moir. Rob is also from Canada! It was great to see him. It’s been year. We all sounded great, and despite being a Monday, we still got a bunch of people out.
I took the next day off to spend some time with Rufi. He is also an excellent vegan chief and made amazing vegan tacos. We went to hang by the river and played a bunch of guitar. He made a fire and we cooked vegan bratwurst. I even stuck my feet in the FREEZING cold water. Really brave by my standards. Last show was Zurich at a small cafe. The next day was workers day and my host in Zurich not only didn’t have to work the next day…. But also had a very decent collection of whiskey so kinda a foggy ending to the Swiss dates.
Czech Republic
Prague. Everyone knows that city. But like I said when in Switzerland, the big places are not the best places to play. I think I’ve also played several shows in Prague to no one actually from Prague… the entire audience was visitors to the city… This time around, I had a show in Klatovy, and a small DIY festival in Tabor.
The journey to Klatovy was something like five train changes. At one point the police border the train and wanted to talk to me, but only asked if the phone I was holding was my phone….. maybe a lost in translation thing… Klatovy was at a really cool bar that was kinda outside and the police came once again cuz it was really loud I’m told.
The next day A friend drove me to tabor with his wife and super cute dog in their mini van. We got pulled over by the police and he had to do a breathalyzer and they scraped his tongue to test if he was on drugs. In the end, he got a ticket for not having the right sticker on his van to drive on the highway.
Could always be worse… Tabor was a super cool DIY fest at a squat that’s been around forever. The squat is run by this cool guy named Chris who is originally from the states but has been in Czech for a long time. I could talk to him for hours and he has a lifetime worth of stories. I played outside the squat and the police came 3 times cuz it was too loud. The last time got serious so I cut my set short. Czech cops man….
Germany
The first show in Germany was actually before the Czech date. Singen. It was May first. Workers day. We have something similar in Canada on Sept first, but they take it super serious in Europe. Germany especially. Singen is a small town and the locals had a stage set up in the main square with food, beer, traditional dance, bands…..and me! I got to do three songs.
I don’t think anyone understood anything I sang, but kinda clapped along. I played again later that night at a squat named Tees Tube. Fast forward a few days after the Czech dates, and I was on a train speeding towards Dresden for a day off. About an hour before I arrived however, my friend messaged me that they hooked up a show at a grocery store! Yep. Now I’ve played everywhere… The show was great and people were very generous with the donations. I even sold a few record.
The next day was Berlin. Neurepublik. A vegan burger place. It was Monday so kinda a small turnout and it was also someone’s birthday. They double booked. Instead of cancelling our show for the birthday party, they let me play, but just with no PA. The friends that came out made it feel like a crowd. I even sang happy birthday on kazoo to the birthday person, who looked less than impressed the entire time.
The next day I had a train to Hamburg but before I got to visit with my good friend Tim Holehouse! Tim and I have toured a bunch together and it was great to see him and our buddy Willy.
Hamburg is always a good time. Cafe Feuerwauche is where I have played every time I’m in town. I just learned it translates to fire station or something along those lines. They have a very dedicated group of people who come to each show, and it was great. Trier, The home of Karl Marx, and Saarbrucken were the 2 last German show.
My friend Pascal joined me on these 2 dates. People in this part of Germany love to smoke cigarettes inside, so again my voice took a beating. But both shows were great! Trier had the unfortunate circumstance of a bitchy neighbour who complained it was too loud. Saarbrucken I literally stomped my way through the stage! I hope they can get it fixed ok.
The Netherlands
I only had one show in NL. Nijmegen. Willem from Antilectual and his Partner Roos hosted me. Willem and I go back all the way to the High Five Drive days and it’s always great to see him and Roos. Cafe de Opstand was where I played. The second time having me. The sound was great as was the food, drink and people. I really should try to do more shows in Netherlands!
Luxembourg
My second time in Luxembourg. It was outside one of the oldest, if not the oldest brewery in Lux. Bofferding. Really fun to say it. Say it out loud a few times. I’ll wait…… the show was outside and it was something like twelve degrees celsius. Having jammed in a freezing cold basement for all of my twenties, I had a bit of an advantage playing in the cold.
Once I get going, my act is like doing aerobics when singing and I keep pretty toasty anyways. This was the first show on this tour with my friend de Pascal Vu Wooltz. We met last tour and became friends. It was great to share the stage with him for a few days and I much appreciated after a long tour of bus and train ride, that he had a car.
Belgium
Finally the last show of the tour. It was the second time I lost my voice due to cigarette smoke, but I was able to squeak out one more show to some old friends and new friends in Mons.
I played in the street in-front of the bar with no PA. A true test of how far I can push my forty three year old body. In the end, I sold my last few records and they said I can come back anytime! A great way to finish it off!
End Route Winnipeg
It’s been a bit of a tradition to take a day off at the end of the tour enjoy Paris for a day. I found a cheap hotel close to the airport that has a really cool shower. Like the room is tiny.
Basically four walls and a bed, with this giant shower in the middle of the room. The exhaust fan wasn’t working in my room this time, which meant the entire room was kinda tropical for a few hours after my thirty minute shower. The shower itself has the overhead giant “rain” shower head. A removable shower head. And a few side jets to make sure your entire body is covered at all times in water.
This tour was my fourteenth Europe tour. I’ve done Paris on all scales of budgets. This time was going to be a bit lighter than a few of the past visits, with the Wedding coming up in the fall. But not prob! Paris has something for all budgets. No shortage of sights to see and places to visit. However, my honest favourite thing to do is grab a bottle of wine and just sit by the river and enjoy the fact I’m in one of the coolest cities on earth.
Not much to report on my flight the next day back to Canada. After landing in Montreal, my friends Jody and Jess who had been taking care of my van picked me up. A short visit with them, and I drove to my brother and sister in law’s place for diner and well deserved sleep before the 2 day journey all the way back to Winnipeg.
