Fans were lined up at the Tsongas Center waiting to get their seats for an incredible night with Brantley Gilbert and a few friends Austin Snell & Travis Denning.
The first act of the evening was Country singer and songwriter, Austin Snell. A native of small town Dudley, Georgia, Snell grew up with a modern rock-loving father and a mother drawn to country radio – a fact reinforced by the family’s collection of four total CDs, ones by Nickelback, Three Doors Down, Creed and Alan Jackson.
He is nineteen years old, 1,000 miles from home and alone for the first time, he passed the long evenings with a cheap acoustic guitar, belting out the same tunes he grew up on with a few clumsy chords.
After his gritty “Excuse the Mess” gathered 1 million streams in its first week of independent release, Snell has gone on to drop a handful of hard-core country rockers, with momentum building behind the sound. A quarter of a million TikTok followers over 36 million total streams. Big time playlist placements on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora and more.
His setlist consisted of a few originals and a few covers, that included Jason Aldean’s “Hicktown,” & Cassadee Pope’s “Wasting All These Tears. Snell began his set with “Excuse the Mess,” immediately engaging the audience. Throughout the night, he shared personal stories behind his songs, fostering an intimate connection with fans.
He closed the concert with hits “Heavy Metal” and “Pray All the Way Home.” Overall, Snell’s performance was a testament to his growing influence in the country-rock scene, leaving fans eager for his future endeavors.
The next act was American country music singer and songwriter signed to UMG Nashville’s Mercury Nashville label, Travis Denning. He began pursuing his musical interests after listening to music with his father as a teenager, and released his first independent single in 2012, “Ready for Tonight”. After moving to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2014, he got a publishing deal with RED Creative Group, which led to him writing songs for Jason Aldean, Justin Moore, and Chase Rice among others.
Denning has released his first extended play, titled Beer’s Better Cold, on May 15, 2020 “Where That Beer’s Been” was sent to radio as the second single off the EP in June 2020.
Denning opened his set with “Call It Country.” Denning’s setlist featured a mix of his well-known tracks and showcased his exceptional guitar skills. Attendees were particularly impressed by his ability to “flat out play his Les Paul Guitar.”
In addition to his original songs, Denning captivated the audience with a nostalgic cover of Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive,” demonstrating his versatility and deep appreciation for classic rock influences.
Throughout the evening, Denning’s personable nature and storytelling between songs fostered a genuine connection with the crowd. His passion for music was evident, leaving fans eagerly anticipating his future performances.
Last act of the evening was American country rock singer, songwriter and record producer from Jefferson, Georgia Brantley Gilbert.
He was originally signed to Colt Ford’s label, Average Joes Entertainment, where he released Modern Day Prodigal Son and Halfway to Heaven. He is now signed to the Valory division of Big Machine Records where he has released six studio albums—a deluxe edition of Halfway to Heaven, Just as I Am, The Devil Don’t Sleep, Fire & Brimstone, So Help Me God, Tattoos, and 14 country chart entries, four of which have gone to number one. He also co-wrote (with Colt Ford) and originally recorded Jason Aldean’s singles “My Kinda Party” and “Dirt Road Anthem”.
From the moment Gilbert stormed onto the stage, clad in his signature black ballcap, the crowd erupted. Kicking off the night with “It’s About To Get Dirty”, the Georgia native wasted no time setting the tone. The roaring guitars, pounding drums, and Gilbert’s gravelly voice ignited the venue, proving that this wasn’t just another country concert—it was a full-fledged rock show with a country heart.
After “My Kind of Party,” he pretended to have technical difficulties. A member of his crew came on stage and brought his girlfriend out for a wedding proposal. They don’t normally do stuff like this but it felt like we had to tonight.
During “Dirt Road,” Denning came back on stage to help him with this song. During “Muddy Water,” Snell came back on stage to sing with him.
His gritty vocals were on point all night, and the live instrumentation gave every song a harder-hitting feel than their studio versions.
Brantley Gilbert proved once again why he’s one of country music’s top live acts. His blend of rock-and-roll edge, heartfelt storytelling, and genuine fan connection made for an unforgettable night. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just discovering his music, a Brantley Gilbert concert is an experience worth having.
Brantley Gilbert
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Travis Denning
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