Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan channel blink-182 energy with surprise "All the Small Things" cover

Pop-punk made a loud return to Quebec City on July 4, as Avril Lavigne headlined Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ) to a packed crowd of over 80,000 fans on the Plains of Abraham.

The concert marked the final stop of Avril Lavigne’s Greatest Hits Tour with fellow Canadian band Simple Plan. To mark the moment, the two longtime acts performed their recent collaboration “Young and Dumb,” a track that looks back on their early 2000s rise with a mix of nostalgia and perspective.

During the performance, they brought a group of fans onstage — including both kids and longtime supporters — and handed each a signed Avril Lavigne skateboard as a parting gift.

Avril Lavigne didn’t end the night there. Since it was their last show together, she invited Simple Plan to stay on stage for one more song. Before launching into a cover, she shared a quick tribute. According to the event recap:

“She said the band they were about to cover helped shape both of their careers.”

That band is none other than Blink-182.

With the crowd singing every word, the two acts closed the night with a joint cover of “All The Small Things,” a fan-favorite from pop-punk’s golden era.

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“In Too Deep” feels: Avril Lavigne brings out ex Deryck Whibley for a surprise Sum 41 throwback at Warped Tour

Avril Lavigne and Simple Plan’s “All the Small Things” moment comes after she brought out a surprise guest — none other than her ex-husband and Sum 41 frontman, Deryck Whibley — during her headlining set at the Vans Warped Tour in Washington, D.C.

The reunion took place on June 15, about eight songs into Lavigne’s festival-closing performance. Before introducing Whibley, Lavigne addressed the crowd:

“What do you say we bring one of the OG Warped Tour bands back out here tonight to join me right now? I know they’re one of my favourite pop-punk bands, what about you? Let’s hear it for Deryck from Sum f—ing 41!”

Whibley, stepping onto the stage to a roaring crowd, quipped:

“Holy s—t, god d—n. I thought I f—ing quit music. But how the f—k can I miss the Warped Tour right? I’ve come out of my three- or four-month retirement for two reasons: to be with the Warped Tour family, and to be with the one, the only, the motherf—ing princess.”

The former couple then launched into Sum 41’s iconic 2001 track “In Too Deep,” backed by Lavigne’s band, a pop-punk moment that had fans both emotional and energized.

After the set, Lavigne reflected on the performance in a social media post:

“Headlined Vans Warped Tour last night and it was everything I would have expected and more! It was one of the best crowds and you guys know how to rock!”

She also gave a shout-out to Whibley, writing:

“This legend @deryckwhibley from @sum41 joined me for one of the best pop punk anthems of all time ‘In Too Deep.’”

Lavigne and Whibley married in 2006, after dating for several years. Their separation was announced in 2009, and their divorce was finalized the following year. At the time, Lavigne shared her appreciation for Whibley in a blog post:

"Deryck and I are separating and moving forward on a positive note.”

She added:

“I admire Deryck and have a great amount of respect for him. He is the most amazing person I know, and I love him with all my heart."

Whibley’s appearance marked a rare return to the stage following Sum 41’s official farewell earlier this year. The band concluded its run with a final album release and retirement from touring after Whibley faced serious health issues in recent years.