Avery Anna, a rising star in the country music scene, hails from Flagstaff, Arizona. She began her musical journey at a young age, drawing inspiration from artists like Taylor Swift and practicing country music alongside her grandfather. By 13, she was writing her own songs, and at 16, she started performing at local events. Her breakthrough came during the COVID-19 pandemic when a TikTok video of her singing ‘Say Something' in her mother's bathroom went viral, amassing over 10 million views. This exposure led to a record deal with Warner Music Nashville.
Despite being in her early twenties, Avery has achieved significant success, with nearly 350 million global streams. Her 2021 viral hit ‘Narcissist,' featured on her debut EP ‘Mood Swings' showcased her impressive vocals and willingness to explore different sounds. She has opened for artists like BRELAND and Jordan Davis, embarked on her own headline tour, and performed at events such as C2C in the past. Her debut full-length album, ‘Breakup Over Breakfast,' is a testament to her bravery as an artist, delving deep into personal themes while maintaining an energetic and engaging sound. Our review here.
For an artist in their debut-album phase, grabbing a slot on the main stage of the C2C festival across London, Belfast and Glasgow was an amazing opportunity and Avery Anna grabbed that opportunity with both hands, delivering one of the standout sets of the whole London weekend, boldly announcing her arrival on the international stage.
Opening her show with the ballsy, bombastic ‘Blame it on My Broken Heart,' Anna made a statement that would have caused anyone who had taken the opportunity to nip to the toilet or go for a drink to come running back to their seats as fast as they could. A big, guitar-orientated rocker, ‘….. Broken Heart' found Anna exuding confidence beyond her years and experience on what we thought was the best concert opener we saw over the whole weekend.
After clubbing the O2 crowd around the head with such a powerful opening song, the only way that Avery Anna could go after was down, right? WRONG. Why not play an absolute Country classic in the form of Patsy Cline's ‘Crazy?' Good move, soothe some of the audience who were worried that this was going to be a loud rock show with a lovely, sweet version of a genre classic, right? WRONG. Halfway through the song, which Anna was singing the hell out of at the time, the guitars kicked in and the song pivoted into some sort of Queen-esque anthem for it's second half climax. Another ballsy and bold move that only served to endear Avery Anna to this impressed and sometimes slightly jaded reviewer!
‘Mr Predictable' kept the Queen vibes going and also threw in a hint of Taylor Swift on a song that took a series of interesting twists and turns, sonically. Anna's on-stage confidence was infectious as she criss-crossed the stage with a huge smile on her face and a real fire in her guts. It started to become clear at this point that Anna isn't an artist that does verse, bridge, chorus, rinse and repeat. Her songs are unique, original and wonderfully unpredictable (unlike the guy in the aforementioned song) in their structure and sound, taking the listener on surprising and uplifting journeys.
‘Indigo,' the duet Avery Anna did with Sam Barber, saw the O2 lit up with phone lights and the singer on stage visibly moved, ‘Grave,' a new, unreleased song was preceded by an introduction in which Anna explained, ‘I don't really know how to talk about this one so I'm just going to sing,' before she delivered another powerful, Coldplay-esque anthem that had all the hallmarks of ‘Classic Avery Anna.' Loud and quiet parts, soaring vocals and the kind of emotional and meaningful lyrics that punch you, unapologetically, right in the guts!
Avery Anna doesn't just write simple 3 minute pop songs. She isn't ‘another one' of those female artists that are emerging from her generation who want to be Taylor Swift either. There are elements of the best parts of both those descriptors in her music and that shone through on her breakout song, ‘Narcissist,' but there is so much more to her than that and it radiated on a nuclear level throughout this breakout performance in every song she played.
‘Are you ready for some Country music?' she asked as the iconic ‘Blues Eyes Crying in the Rain' ran as an intro track to ‘It's Just Rainin.' The pivot was well received as Anna put aside her Kelly Clarkson persona and went full Patsy Cline………………. until a final third guitar change saw a flying V thrust into her hands and we rocked out in the song's final third as she delivered another surprising and unique twist on this Country/Rock hybrid.
Set closer ‘Make It Look Easy,' a real highlight on Avery Anna's debut album, ‘Breakup Over Breakfast' was an absolute delight too as she left the stage in the same way she entered: full of confidence, staring the crowd in the eyes and daring them to come along with her on this unique and daring journey.
Without a doubt, Avery Anna's set was the most surprising one of the whole C2C weekend. She took the opportunity to announce herself to an international crowd and absolutely grabbed it by the scruff of the neck, slapped it in the face a couple of times and walked away with a strut as we were left breathless, dazed and desperate for move. Bold, fearless and delightfully engaging, Avery Anna's streaming numbers should have rocketed over night as a whole new army of fans begin to drift back to their houses and search for who she is across whatever DSP they use. She needs to return as soon as possible to build upon this amazing introduction and we'll be there to support her at every chance we can.
Setlist: 1. Blame it on My Broken Heart 2. Crazy 3. Mr Predictable 4. Indigo 5. Grave 6. It's Just Rainin' 7. Narcissist 8. Make it Look Easy Venue: The O2 Arena, London Date: Sunday 16th March
