Hoobastank and Simple Plan Turned a Grounded Flight Into an Impromptu Concert

Southwest Airlines dusted off its "Live at 35" program during Friday's nationwide air travel shutdown, turning a stranded flight from LA to Orlando into an unexpected music venue. Hoobastank, The Used, Simple Plan, and Lolo performed for passengers stuck aboard a Southwest bird on November 13th—all artists who were headed to Vans Warped Tour anyway.

It's a smart move when chaos hits. You've got thousands of delayed flights, thousands of annoyed people, and a bunch of musicians already on the manifest. Why not make something out of it? These weren't tiny indie acts either; we're talking real names from the 2000s rock lane who still pull crowds.

The "Live at 35" program ain't new—Southwest's been running it for a minute—but timing it during a national ground stop is the kind of move that actually matters. Passengers stuck for hours get a show. Artists get an audience. Everyone wins instead of sitting in frustration.

In a week when the airline industry took a major L, at least one carrier figured out how to turn a disaster into something people might actually remember for the right reasons.

Read the full story at Variety → https://variety.com/2026/music/news/hoobastank-simple-plan-mid-flight-southwest-ground-stop-1236947751/