17 October 2024 (gig)
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The way Stepleton captures an entire audience with a guitar and the clearest vocals I’ve ever heard live, it is no surprise that Glasgow’s Hydro was bursting at the seams for the sold-out gig which was supported by the one and only Marty Stuart.
There is no denying that the UK has seen a recent surge in admiration for country music and after many years of getting no concerts at all or the odd one all the way in London, it’s amazing to see huge country names add Scottish dates to their tour - and even better seeing arenas full of budding fans. It’s been a while since Stapleton last did a Scottish show since he headlined the iconic Country 2 Country Festival in 2019, and to see him return years later on his own tour was a full circle wholesome moment.
Looking through Chris’ discography in advance, it was a tough one to whittle down a potential set-list, but I can safely say we saw the best of the best on Thursday night.
Kicking off with the most iconic and powerful track any concert of his could start with, was White Horse. This is one of those songs that gives you goosebumps, no matter the location - so imagine a five-piece band and the punchy first few bars of White Horse filling an area as Chris and his wife, Morganne, took to the stage. I will even admit, I didn’t start singing until the second chorus as I sat wide mouthed in shock at how amazing it was to see Chris live on stage and hear this song in real-time - a true bucketlist dream moment for Scottish Stapleton fans in the building.
”We’re gonna play some songs for y’all with not much talking” - straight into a powerful array of tracks including Nobody to Blame, Second One to Know and a couple of covers from Kevin Welch Millionaire, Steeldrivers Midnight Train to Memphis and the toe tapping Worry B Gone by Guy Clark. His iconic voice makes you almost forget that these are covers.
Stapletons’ voice powered through the concert with countless moments of authenticity and genuine disbelief of how many people were in the audience, it’s always such a special moment to see an artist from across the pond realise that country music is alive and kicking in another country. One of the highlight moments of the night for me was seeing the true love between Chris and his wife Morgane. Every song was sung directly into her eyes and there is no romantic feeling like it - watching them perform on stage together is nothing short of a movie and absolutely heart-warming to see.
Each song felt more personable than the next and we were treated to the jazzy Think I’m In Love with You, Mountains of My Mind, Whiskey and You and Arkansas. Looking down to the floor of the area, despite being a seated event, the entire crowd was swaying and singing along - eating up Chris’ Southern comforting charm and undeniable soulful voice. This is one of those concerts that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
And of course, what would a Chris Stapleton concert be without the most goosebumps - hair standing on end - wholesome rendition of Tennessee Whiskey. Arguably some of the most iconic chords in country music, filling the hydro to end the night. Chris Stapleton’s on-stage presence is a powerful combination of authenticity, emotion, and musical talent. He captivates audiences not just with his voice, but with his ability to create a shared experience that lingers long after the concert ends.
Truly an amazing concert, and praying we’re treated to another UK tour in the not so distant future.
