TORONTO - Although the Labour Day weekend traditionally marks the end of another summer, Blue Rodeo, fireworks and a perfect Friday evening comes a close second.

The group, who have made the late August appearance something of a ritual in recent years, visited the nearly sold-out Molson Amphitheatre and delivered a stellar two-hour set.

And while fans got the radio-friendly, roots-pop tunes courtesy of Jim Cuddy, they were also treated to the edgier, rock-oriented stylings of Greg Keelor on the opener Heart Like Mine off the band's debut album Outskirts.

"Ah, I never get used to this," Cuddy quipped early on to the applause. "Thank you very much."

The sextet, four of whom played on a smaller, semi-circular stage jutting out from the main stage, were airtight, whether it was Til I Am Myself Again or Rena, the latter off the new album Are You Ready.

Throughout it all, the band's core duo tends to slightly take the group in its own personal direction. For every time Cuddy placed a harmonica holder around his neck, fans almost innately knew to expect a slower, softer roots-cum-country gem like Head Over Heels or the ballad-esque Bad Timing.

Yet the Keelor-fuelled songs, while not quite as radio accessible, were just as grand. Palace Of Gold had the scruffy-looking singer and guitarist singing in the vein of Johnny Cash while nailing Side Of The Road immediately thereafter.

Keelor also got heckled during a short, sit-down acoustic portion featuring just himself and Cuddy side by side.

"It's very rude to yell at me when I'm singing," Keelor said. "Yeah, I know buddy, I'm the man!"

Nonetheless, that portion of the evening showed how well the duo have worked together for so long, offering up What Am I Doing Here and the sparser, haunting Phaedra's Meadow.

The crowd, ranging from children to grandparents, were content to sing along while those on the floor were given ample space to kick up their heels.

Perhaps the highlights of the evening were the lengthy Five Days In May which created a loud crowd response. Here Cuddy worked the slow, chugging tune until Keelor took it off on a trippy, psychedelic-tinged rock tangent.

After a lead vocal by bassist Bazil Donovan on Stage Door, the group began winding the evening down with Diamond Mine and Hasn't Hit Me Yet, the latter's first half sung by the crowd as fireworks lit up the sky.

Openers Matt Mays and El Torpedo rocked the slowly filling venue early with songs from his new album, including Cocaine Cowgirl and Stand Down At Sundown.