Tyler Childers @ The Drive, Adelaide 24/2/2025
IF you told Kentucky native Tyler Childers ten years ago he’d be playing to more than six thousand fans in Adelaide, you probably would’ve been laughed out the door with his thick, south-eastern drawl.
But in 2025, country music proves to be one of the United States’ biggest exports down under and thirty three year-old Childers is a valuable commodity.
Steeped in the sounds of the Appalachian South, his unfiltered and honest bluegrass is part of the new wave engulfing modern country music both here and abroad.
But when the unassuming singer songwriter takes the stage, you’d be hard pressed to find more of a country superstar who looks absolutely nothing like one. With his clean, neat cardigan and fitted pants, Childers in 2025 more so resembles a frontman of a UK indie band, that is of course until he opens his mouth.
The tender In Your Love kicks things off and his seven-piece band The Food Stamps bring an instant warmth to the large arena.
Right from the start though the venue, once again struggled with sound issues.
Vocal reverberation and drums, as slight as they may were, ricocheted off the back of the venue prompting a handful of punters to relocate elsewhere to enjoy the show.
The honky tonk of Country Squire followed but it was the sing along of 2017’s Swear To God which had the crowd screaming along early before many in the crowd reached for their loved ones to cuddle up for the sentimental All You’rn.
A cover of John Prine’s Paradise was a nice touch, paying homage to the country legend who he supported on his 2019 Australian tour, his last before his passing less than twelve months later.
But without a shadow of a doubt the true strength of Childers’ live show is when he pulls it all back.
The solo acoustic set in the middle of the concert, reminiscent of his breakthrough OurVinyl Session was spine tingling. The singer laid bare his pain and heartfelt stories, akin to reading from a diary to a roomful of strangers.
It was so captivating there were moments you could hear a pin drop.
Phones were hoisted up for the much of the solo showing, which kicked off with the tender Lady May written for his wife Senora.
Childers’ was delighted to share with the crowd he will finally see her this week for the first time in almost two months, the longest he has been away from his young family.
His calling card of Nose on the Grindstone and Follow You to Virgie ensued before a stomping version of Hank Williams Old Country Church transformed the outdoor arena into a giant sermon as stained-glass church windows backlit the large stage.
His hit Whitehouse Road inspired a mass singalong and a handful of local cowboys grabbed their partners and showed off some impressive two step dances.
It book-ended a two hour modern country masterclass, one that can easily rub shoulders with the best of them.
But it wasn’t before finishing with the anthemic Universal Sound.
Arguably Childers’ finest moment, he discusses the human connection through religion, life, love and drugs proving that whatever your pain, the man has the cure for you in spades.
Live Review By Sam Kelton