HEADLINER: CHRIS STAPLETON
SUPPORT: MARCUS KING
DATE: FEBRUARY 28TH 2025
VENUE: BRISBANE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
REVIEWER: HEAR 2 ZEN
PHOTOGRAPHER: ANDREW TREADWELL PHOTOGRAPHY
Chris Stapleton has some impressive stats to his name: 10 Grammy’s, 15 CMA’s and 10x ACM’s to name a few. He’s performed the National Anthem at 2023’s Super Bowl LVII and has collaborated in recent years with Adele, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, P!nk, Sheryl Crow, Santana and many more, but tonight it was all about the Brisbane stop on the Australian Leg of the All American Road Show Tour.
Opener was the amazing Marcus King. His blending of country, southern rock and blues was just next level. The mix of soulful and smooth vocals with absolutely ripping guitar made for the perfect combination. His quick 11 song set had something for everyone, great songs like 8AM tell the story of the long nights at the bar some of us have had, and the great new track Honky Tonk Hell just had the arena buzzing.
After a 40 minute stage change the natives were growing restless down the front of the floor, and the ever diligent security team made sure that the crowd were all safe and there to have a good time, its hard when the wait for your favourite artist seems to take forever, but as the house lights went down they knew it was worth it. As Stapleton took the stage, you saw the entire floor section stand, it almost looked like a giant Mexican wave as one row followed the next to their feet. Goosebumps moment for sure.
When he played Fire Away, the Brisbane crowd was on fire themselves, just absolutely erupting. During “It Takes A Woman” the eye contact between Chris and his Wife Morgane, you would have thought they were the only two in the room. The love you feel between them on stage is something some can only dream of, she compliments him beautifully.
Its a show, with not a lot of fan fare, no fancy production. A show where the music does the talking, as Chris really didn’t need to do a lot, but he always expressed his thanks. Chris’s guitar playing amazing, his stage presence, amazing, he was brilliant The atmosphere last night was truly electric, and never one to not Proud to tip the ten gallon hat to influences with covers of Kevin Welch, Guy Clarke, John Fogerty, and David Allen Coe
Whether you like country or not, Stapleton’s crowd got to hear the fire in his voice, see the fire in his eyes, and you can tell he absolutely loves what he is doing. It’s an all round amazing show, and not one to be missed. I can see this moving into outdoor stadiums next time, the love for him is so deep in Australia.
Thank you to Chris Stapleton, Marcus King and their respective teams and huge thank you to Live Nation Australian and RPM PR for their continued support of Hear 2 Zen
SET LIST
White Horse / Nobody To Blame / Second One To Know / Millionaire (Kevin Welch) / Devil Always Made Me Think Twice / Hard Livin’ / Worry B Gone (Guy Clarke) / What Am I Gonna Do / It Takes A Woman / Think I’m In Love With You / Mountains Of My Mind / Whiskey And You / Arkansas / Parachute / Starting Of My Life / Joy Of My Life (John Fogerty) / You Should Probably Leave / I Was Wrong / Cold / Traveler / Fire Away / Broken Halos / Tennessee Whisky (David Allen Coe) / What Are You Listening To?
I had front row, floor and couldn’t have asked for a better show from Chris and his band.
I had never heard of Marcus King, but as you’ve said, he was brilliant and I’m now nearly as big a fan of his as I am of Chris.
What a great talent to start the show of with.
The wait between acts was long enough to go to loo, and/or get a drink and get back in time to wait a little longer for Chris.
He generously gave my daughter 2 guitar picks which she was over the moon about.
I also know that he gave a wheelchair bound 12 year old 2 drum sticks and guitar picks.
Great show, great performance, incredible voice!!!
To the security staff who didn’t evict the girl who vomited twice and was vaping just a metre or 2 behind me, a big thumbs down. Many patrons were bitterly disappointed in their non actions and it distracted us from enjoying this incredible show. I’m sure there would have been written complaints by those directly affected.