Dierks Bentley is a true modern Country music legend. Active since 2003, Bentley has racked up a huge catalogue of hits including number ones ‘Am I the Only One’, ‘5-1-5-0’, ‘I Hold On’ and ‘Drunk on a Plane’ to name but a few. Across his career he’s released 10 studio albums and a whopping 35 singles, along with a live album and a greatest hits. The last time we saw him performing in the UK was in 2016 ahead of the release of his album ‘Black’. Prior to that he was part of the C2C 2014 line-up but now he’s back for C2C 2025 and this time he’s headlining the Saturday night in London.
Moving up to headliner status for C2C is a huge deal for Bentley, and I must say while it’s well-deserved it was a surprise given his long absence from these shores. There’s no denying that he has the stage presence and hits to deliver a standout set, and hopes were incredibly high ahead of him arriving on stage. Arriving on The O2 Main Stage at 9.30pm, Bentley launched into ‘Gold’ from his latest album ‘Gravel & Gold’, getting his set off to a strong start. In a rather bold move, he followed that up with one of his signature hits, ‘I Hold On’ and from that point onwards, the audience were putty in his hands.
The first half of the set was packed with hits that fans were desperate to hear. ‘Am I The Only One’ was early in the set and led into a rendition of ‘Red Solo Cup’, while ‘Burning Man’ from 2018’s ‘The Mountain’ sounded anthemic in the setting of The O2 Arena. A cover of Tom Petty’s ‘American Girl’ allowed him to lean into both his rock and his bluegrass influences, and consistently throughout the night, Bentley’s vocals were on top form. Backed by his incredible band, which included Charlie Worsham, Bentley gave a storming rendition of ‘Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)’ from 2006’s ‘Long Trip Alone’, which was segued with a cover of Alabama’s ‘Mountain Music’.
‘Up on the Ridge’, the title track from Bentley’s bluegrass album from 2010, was a real treat for fans of Bentley’s more traditional material. That song turned into a cover of Garth Brooks’ “Callin’ Baton Rouge’ with Worsham taking on lead vocals. As Worsham sang, Bentley leaned into his skills as an entertainer, pretending to be outraged that someone else in the band was singing the vocals. This carried on through a cover of Keith Allison’s ‘Freedom Man’, with Bentley jokingly battling to win back his role as lead vocalist. It was a very funny moment and proof that Bentley is adept at comedy, as well as music.
With Bentley back on lead vocals, he delivered the one-two-punch of ‘5-1-5-0’ and ‘What Was I Thinkin’ and the audience in the arena erupted. The majority were on their feet, you could hear plenty of singing and the feel-good vibe that had run through the entire night was taken to a whole new level. After leaving the stage briefly, Bentley returned dressed as a dishevelled pilot and performed his classic track ‘Drunk on a Plane’. It was a moment that shows you the power and the beauty of C2C when the stars align and an artist hits the sweet spot. It’s hard to describe the energy in the room but it was something truly special.
After leaving the stage again, a video screen introduced the crowd to the Hot Country Knights, Bentley’s comedy 90s Country covers band. Bentley and his band returned to the stage once more, decked out in hilarious 90s costumes, and they delivered one hell of a medley of classic 90s Country songs. With various members taking it turns to sing lead, and plenty of play fighting taking place on stage, it was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on just how incredibly talented Bentley’s band is. Highlights included Tim McGraw’s ‘I Like It, I Love It’, Billy Ray Cyrus’ ‘Achy Breaky Heart’, an audience-assisted version of Shania Twain’s ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman’ and of course, Garth Brooks’ iconic ‘Friends in Low Places’. Hot Country Knights were hilarious and it was a good 10-minutes of complete chaos. I felt sorry for anyone in the audience who wasn’t aware of the comedy band, as they would have been totally baffled.
I’ve seen a lot of headliners at C2C since it began back in 2013 and I can safely say that Bentley is one of the best they’ve ever had, if not a contender for THE best. With an enviable catalogue of hits, remarkable stage presence, one of the best bands in the genre and a knack for entertainment, Bentley delivered well above the expectations of a headliner. I often feel he doesn’t get the kudos he deserves but during his headline performance at C2C 2025, the love from the audience was abundantly clear. Bentley is a legend for a reason and his C2C 2025 performance will go down in history one of the best performances the festival has ever seen.
Set list: 1. Gold 2. I Hold On 3. Am I The Only One / Red Solo Cup 4. Living 5. Burning Man 6. American Girl 7. Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go) / Mountain Music 8. Gone 9. Up on the Ridge / Callin’ Baton Rouge 10. Freedom Man (Keith Allison cover) 11. 5-1-5-0 12. What Was I Thinkin’ 13. Drunk on a Plane 14. T-R-O-U-B-L-E / I Like It, I Love It / Meet in the Middle / Heads Carolina, Tails California / Achy Breaky Heart / Man! I Feel Like a Woman! / Friends in Low Places Venue: The O2, London Performance date: Saturday 15th March 2025
