Tanner Adell is a rising star in country music, blending modern country storytelling with influences from pop, R&B, and hip-hop. Raised between the beaches of California and the heart of Wyoming, Adell brings a fresh, genre-blending approach to country music, embracing both its traditional roots and contemporary flair. Her bold lyrics, confident delivery, and magnetic stage presence have quickly earned her a dedicated following, with viral hits like ‘Buckle Bunny' showcasing her ability to merge country twang with infectious beats.
Since making waves on social media, Adell has continued to carve out a unique space in the country scene, celebrating themes of independence, empowerment, and self-expression. Her music seamlessly fuses the storytelling heart of country with the attitude and rhythm of modern pop, earning her comparisons to genre-bending artists like Shania Twain and Beyoncé. She was also featured by Beyoncé on her ‘Cowboy Carter' album, appearing on the cover of the Beatles' ‘Blackbird.' With her distinctive style and fearless approach, Tanner Adell is redefining what it means to be a country artist, proving that the genre has room for fresh voices and new perspectives.
Taking the stage early on a Saturday at the O2 Arena in London is never an easy thing to do yet Tanner Adell strolled out and owned the venue like it was a hometown, backyard BBQ full of friends and family in London tonight.
Strutting round in huge fur-lined boots and packing oodles of spunk and confidence, Adell grabbed this impactful moment by the scruff of the neck and just damn well refused to let go. With the only all-girl band at the whole weekend festival in London Tanner Adell brought fierce female truths whilst somehow managing to exude a kind of sweet vulnerability and Sabrina Carpenter-esque naivety that was both endearing and inspiring at the same time. Songs like ‘Tan Lines' were executed with laser sharp precision as Adell sang lines like ‘Baby, take me where the sun don't shine,' whilst somehow managing to engage and appeal to a notoriously older Country music crowd!
‘Buckle Bunny,' Adell's signature song saw her writing all over the floor in a way that the C2C festival had probably never seen before but that's her USP and was her role at this festival this year: Disruptor! ‘Throw it Back' brought a juxtaposition of Shania-like vibes and '50 Shades of Grey,' downright filthy lyrics which worked in the moment and combined with Adell's strong, powerful lyrics served to both entertain and engage. Likewise a song like ‘Strawberry Crush,' in which Adell declares ‘she tastes like strawberries under the covers,' to an arena and a crowd not used to such bold and risque declarations of physical and sensuary pleasure! The song built to a dramatic climax with a classic example of modulation that also encompassed the instrumentation being let free.
Where Tanner Adell was at her best tonight was when she played her newer songs. ‘Nothin' Like You' was an absolute delight and if this song were recorded by someone like Carrie Underwood, no-one would bat an eyelid. Smooth, melodic, modern Country music with a sharp edge, ‘Nothin Like You' might well prove to be the jewell in Adell's crown going forward. Similarly, ‘You Ain't In Love, You're Just Drunk' found Adell occupying that space somewhere between Shania, Carrie and Beyoncé in some style singing a song that built to a huge chorus perfectly suited to arenas in a way that seemed both natural and right for her.
What we saw tonight at the O2 arena in London was an artist perfectly positioned between her own eras – transitioning from one sound and era to the next. When she's at her best Tanner Adell is a fierce, confident and accomplished performer with a set of vocals that could rival the likes of Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. Her newer songs showcase this perfectly and are more skewed towards the classic Pop Country of the past 20 years. Think Carrie Underwood doing a shift in Coyote Ugly and you'd be somewhere near the mark. With Country music and all its trappings being part of the cultural zeitgeist right now it's no surprise to see Tanner Adell moving more towards that end of the spectrum – it suits her and she's damn good at it. It doesn't mean to say the ‘Buckle Bunny' and ‘FU-150' era is done but her newer songs were perfectly arena ready here in London tonight and she impressed with her vocal prowess and her ability to engage and entertain a tough crowd used to watching very different versions of what we call Country music. Kudos and all credit to her – the next few years are going to be fascinating!
Setlist: 1. Do-Si-Don'tcha 2. Tan Lines 3. Buckle Bunny 4. Love You a Little Bit 5. Cowboy Break My Heart 6. Throw It Back 7. Nothin' Like Me 8. Whiskey Blues 9. Strawberry Crush 10. You Ain't In Love, You're Just Drunk Venue: The O2 Arena, London Date: Saturday 15th March
