Sidhu Moose Wala's Hologram Concert Sells Out Scotiabank Arena With a Star-Studded List of Guest Performers

Sidhu Moose Wala’s legacy continues onstage.

The late Punjabi rapper kicked off his Signed to God hologram tour with a sold-out show at Scotiabank Arena on Friday night (Oct. 9), the first performance following his untimely murder in 2022. While becoming the first Punjabi artist to tour as a hologram, he was joined by a long list of collaborators and acolytes from the Punjabi Wave including AP Dhillon, Steel Banglez and AR Paisley, who continue to further the movement that the rapper played a key role in as one of its first breakout stars.

AP Dhillon made a fiery entrance to sing his own hit track "Brown Munde," whose music video Moose Wala makes a cameo in, alongside fellow Punjabi-Canadian rapper Shinda Kahlon and gave a heartfelt speech in which he got the crowd to chant Moose Wala's name. The Billboard Canada-charting artist also expressed his regret for never getting the chance to meet the late rapper. It's his latest tribute to Moose Wala, who he previously honoured during his debut Coachella performance in 2024 by projecting the phrase "Justice for Sidhu Moose Wala" onstage.

One of the night’s most earnest moments came in the form of an appearance by Moose Wala’s father, mother and baby brother. The two-year-old Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu received an ovation from the crowd after performing his late brother’s signature thaapi thigh slap gesture, and was even seen singing onstage while his parents stood beside him.

Moose Wala's hologram entered through a lightning strike onscreen and appeared in different outfits and tracksuits alongside projections of lions. Throughout the show, he cycled through massive hits like the Billboard Hot 100-charting "295," which was also Moose Wala's sole Billboard Global 200 entry during his lifetime. His set list included other cuts like "So High" and "Rebirth," which features global African music superstar Burna Boy, who sent a message to Moose Wala and the fans in attendance. Burna Boy has frequently paid tribute to him onstage, including at shows in Toronto and Vancouver in 2024. Steel Banglez, a close collaborator of both artists, performed Moose Wala collaborations “Attach” and “Invincible."

Rapper Sunny Malton also led a Sidhu Moose Wala chant via an onscreen video before performing his collaboration, the hard-hitting "Never Fold." Malton also made headlines for his brief onstage speech that many have interpreted as a jab at fellow Punjabi artist Karan Aujla, with whom he has feuded on-and-off. “Saale dedh futt de aa,” he said, which translates to calling someone “one-and-a-half” feet tall.

Through his return as a hologram, Moose Wala posthumously gave fans a chance to experience his charting hits live through an avenue he had already considered while alive as a means to connect with a wider audience.

Following a historic, sold-out start in Toronto, the Signed to God tour will make two more Canadian stops at Vancouver's Rogers Arena on Thursday (Oct. 15) and Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome on Oct. 19 before heading to the U.S.