With her ’29: Written in Stone’ era a raging success with both fans and critics alike, Carly Pearce has begun to think about what comes next. ‘We Don’t Fight Anymore’ saw the CMA award winning singer collaborate with Chris Stapleton whilst ‘Heels Over Head’ brought us a more sassy and caustic side to Pearce than we’ve seen before. Returning to UK shores at the 2024 C2C festival in London, Pearce played what will be her only UK show this year to an eager crowd full of warmth and anticipation. New album ‘hummingbird’ will be with us in June and Pearce also announced that she will be back for a full UK tour next February today too!
Opening her set at the O2 Arena in London with ‘Next Girl’ was a ballsy move but one that paid off as people rose to their feet and danced along to one of Carly Pearce’s signature songs. It was clear from the start that helming an arena is a walk in the park for Pearce. She connects with the crowd through her facial expressions and the way she tells the narrative of her songs with her eyes. This draws people in and is especially important in an aircraft hangar sized venue like the O2 arena.
Throughout her set, Pearce navigated the different moods and set pieces with skill, enthusiasm and a deft, professional touch. ‘Easy Going’ was a wonderful slice of Bluegrass that gave Pearce’s band a chance to flow into extended jam sessions and Pearce, herself, the chance to segue ‘Why Not Me,’ from The Judds into proceedings too! A song that could be sung around a campfire sounded well and truly at home in this huge arena as did other quieter or more laid back songs like ‘Country Music Made Me Do It’ and signature song, ‘Every Little Thing.’
‘We Don’t Fight Anymore’ gave Pearce the chance to show off some vocal power whilst ‘Should’ve Known Better’ found her prowling the stage, restless, impassioned and determined to get the message of the song across to anyone who needed to hear it. ‘What He Didn’t Do’ also found Pearce trying to empower and entertain. “Sometimes you can use your pain for purpose,’ she said, before launching into a song that never fails to elicit a whoop or cheer from the crowd after the ‘run him out of this town,’ line, no matter what size venue Pearce plays it in!
The O2 Arena were treated to some new ‘hummingbird’ songs that they hadn’t heard before tonight, too. ‘My Place’ is a powerful, intense ballad that was inspired by a dream and the idea that it is so hard to move on after a break up when you can see what your ex is doing on social media. ‘Truck on Fire’, meanwhile, was a moody, mid-tempo anthem co-written with Charles Kelly of Lady A. It was a real highlight of the set, giving Pearce the chance to emote in a different way but one that was still relatable and recognisable to her fans.
Pearce spoke to the London crowd a couple of times about her love of 90s Country music and we were treated to covers of ‘Let’s Go to Vegas’ by Faith Hill and a cracking ‘Cowboy Take Me Away’ that the Dixie Chicks would whole-heartedly approve of. We also got two guest appearances on two of Carly Pearce’s biggest songs. Hannah Ellis filled in for Ashley McBryde on ‘Never Wanted to be That Girl’ and did a fine job whilst Jackson Dean replaced Lee Brice on set closer ‘I Hope Your Happy Now.’ Both artists excelled and both songs were greeted with rapturous enthusiasm by the London crowd.
The next time Carly Pearce appears at the C2C festival it will be as a headliner and I don’t think there would be any people who witnessed this powerful and engaging performance tonight who would say, now, that that accolade and position would be beyond her. Pearce held the London crowd in the palm of her hand, which meant we danced when she wanted us to dance, laughed when she laughed and shed a tear in the right places too. It was a charismatic and masterful performance and you would be crazy to not try and get tickets for her 2025 tour when they go on sale next week.
Set list: 1. Next Girl 2. Easy Going 3. Country Music Made Me Do It 4. Should’ve Known Better 5. Let’s Go to Vegas 6. Never Wanted to be That Girl 7. Every Little Thing 8. We Don’t Fight Anymore 9. My Place 10. Diamondback 11. Truck on Fire 12. Hide the Wine 13. Cowboy Take Me Away 14. What He Didn’t Do 15. I Hope You’re Happy Now Venue: O2 Arena, London Date: Friday 8th March
