Foreigner have been the soundtrack to countless pub jukeboxes, wedding discos, and late-night singalongs since the mid-70s. Their mix of hard rock grit and arena-ready ballads made them stadium fillers back in the day, and even now they can still sell out venues faster than you can shout Cold As Ice.
But here’s the kicker: their newly announced 13-date Canadian tour for autumn 2025 won’t feature longtime frontman Kelly Hansen. Instead, Foreigner are handing the mic to Geordie Brown — a Canadian vocalist best known for starring in Juke Box Hero: The Musical. Yep, you read that right. Foreigner are literally being fronted by a guy from the jukebox stage show about Foreigner. What a mad full-circle moment, mun.
So what’s the story? Why’s Hansen gone? Who’s this Brown lad? And will I Want To Know What Love Is still hit the same without Kelly’s pipes? Let’s break it down Riff Report style — with a pint in one hand, and the other waving a lighter in the air. 🍺🔥
📅 The Canadian Dates
Foreigner’s 2025 Canadian trek runs from 21 October to 7 November. Here’s the tidy little road trip across the Great White North:
- Oct 21 – St. John’s, NL – Mary Brown’s Centre
- Oct 23 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre
- Oct 25 – Montreal, QC – Place Bell
- Oct 26 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
- Oct 27 – Kingston, ON – Leon’s Centre
- Oct 29 – Sudbury, ON – Sudbury Community Arena
- Oct 30 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON – GFL Memorial Gardens
- Nov 1 – Thunder Bay, ON – Fort William Gardens
- Nov 3 – Medicine Hat, AB – Co-op Place
- Nov 5 – Cranbrook, BC – Western Financial Place
- Nov 7 – Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place
Support comes from Canadian rockers 54-40 on most dates. That’s a proper Canadian pairing: Foreigner with the jukebox hits, and 54-40 flying the maple leaf high with alt-rock credentials.
🎤 The Kelly Hansen Question
Kelly Hansen has been Foreigner’s voice since 2005, when he stepped in after Lou Gramm’s final run with the band. For nearly 20 years, he’s nailed the Foreigner catalogue with swagger, range, and a knack for keeping those classic hits fresh. Many younger fans only know Foreigner with Kelly at the helm.
But earlier in 2025, Hansen announced he’d be stepping away after the summer run, closing his chapter with the band. Foreigner didn’t waste time — they confirmed guitarist Luis Maldonado as the new full-time frontman going forward. That means future tours will feature Maldonado doing double duty: guitar slinger and lead vocalist.
So why isn’t Luis doing Canada? Well, that’s where things get theatrical…
🎭 Enter Geordie Brown – The Juke Box Hero
Geordie Brown isn’t a household rock name… yet. But if you’ve seen Juke Box Hero: The Musical (yep, a full stage production based on Foreigner’s catalogue), then you know his chops. Brown starred as the young wannabe rocker who belts out Foreigner’s biggest anthems every night under the stage lights.
For this Canadian run, Foreigner decided to hand Brown the actual mic. It’s a wild experiment — almost like Mamma Mia! suddenly sending its star on an ABBA reunion tour. But let’s be real: Brown knows these songs inside out, he’s Canadian (always a plus when you’re touring the homeland), and he’s got the stamina to hit the high notes on Juke Box Hero without missing a beat.
Mick Jones clearly fancies giving him a trial by fire in front of real rock crowds.
🎶 What’s on the Setlist?
Foreigner have never been shy about playing the greatest hits. You’ll get all the jukebox fillers, guaranteed. Expect a mix of:
- Cold As Ice 🧊
- Feels Like the First Time
- Double Vision 👀
- Urgent 🚨
- Juke Box Hero 🎸
- Waiting for a Girl Like You
- Hot Blooded 🔥
- I Want to Know What Love Is ❤️
The big question: how will Brown’s voice carry the soaring ballads like I Want To Know What Love Is? That’s a song that demands passion and power. If he nails it, fans might just forgive the absence of Hansen. If he doesn’t, well… cue the grumbling.
🥊 Who Sang It Best? (Lou vs Kelly vs Geordie vs Luis)
Let’s be honest: Foreigner’s singer saga is more tangled than a tent rope after three days at Steelhouse Festival.
- Lou Gramm (1976–2003, off and on): The original voice. Iconic, soulful, and the benchmark. Without Lou, there’d be no Foreigner sound.
- Kelly Hansen (2005–2025): The revival king. He restored Foreigner’s live energy and kept them touring arenas well into the 21st century.
- Geordie Brown (2025 Canadian run): The wildcard. Straight outta musical theatre, but with chops and charisma. The jury’s out until October.
- Luis Maldonado (2025 onwards): The new frontman/guitarist. He’s got the musical pedigree, but hasn’t had his big test yet.
Fans will argue forever about who’s “real Foreigner.” But honestly? If the songs slap and you’ve got a beer in your hand, most punters won’t care. You’ll still be shouting JUKE BOX HERO! with everyone else.
💰 Tickets & Fan Reactions
Tickets are already flying out faster than Greggs sausage rolls at a Welsh service station. Prices vary by city, but standard seats are hovering around $80–$120 CAD (£45–£70 in old money). VIP packages (yep, Foreigner still do them) push higher, with meet-and-greets, merch bundles, and premium seating.
Fan reaction online has been… mixed. Some are excited to see a new take on the classics, while others are gutted Hansen won’t be there. One fan on a Canadian forum summed it up:
“I bought tickets thinking Kelly was singing. Still gonna go, but it’s like ordering a pint and getting a shandy. Tastes fine, but it’s not what you asked for.” 🍺😂
🎸 Foreigner’s Never-Ending Farewell?
Another thing to note: Foreigner already announced their “farewell tour” in 2023. But like Kiss, Scorpions, and Ozzy before them, farewell doesn’t always mean farewell. This Canadian run proves that Foreigner aren’t quite done cashing in their jukebox tokens.
With Mick Jones now rarely performing due to health, the band’s future is basically about keeping the brand alive through the hits. The addition of Brown and Maldonado shows they’re not afraid to shuffle the deck. Whether fans call it Foreigner, or “Former-er,” is another debate.
🏴 A Welsh Riff Report Take
Look, mun — Foreigner might be a nostalgia act at this point, but they’re still packing out arenas, still belting Cold As Ice, and still making people fall in love during I Want To Know What Love Is. That’s more than most bands can say after nearly 50 years.
Would we rather see Lou Gramm back onstage? Absolutely.
Would we take Kelly Hansen singing his heart out one last time? Definitely.
But Geordie Brown stepping up? That’s rock ‘n’ roll chaos at its finest. Tidy little curveball.
Final Thoughts
Foreigner’s 13-date 2025 Canadian tour without Kelly Hansen is bold, strange, and maybe even brilliant. Geordie Brown has huge shoes to fill, but if he channels the spirit of Lou and Kelly while adding his own flair, fans might walk away shouting “Proper job!”
Either way, the hits are bulletproof. Whether it’s Lou, Kelly, Luis, or Geordie — Hot Blooded will still get fists pumping, Cold As Ice will still freeze the room, and Juke Box Hero will always make some kid in the crowd dream of picking up a guitar. 🎸🔥
👉 What do you think, butt? Is Foreigner still Foreigner without Kelly Hansen, or is this just a nostalgia cash grab with a musical theatre twist? Drop your thoughts below — and diolch for rocking with us at The Riff Report.
