Review by Leo Hiraga with Markus Hamence – Performance date: Monday 20 January 2025, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, South Australia
City and Colour STUNS Adelaide in 2025
The Adelaide Entertainment Centre was a flurry of buzz last night, January 20, 2025, as us avid music lovers turned up in droves to witness a night headlined by the soulful Canadian artist, City and Colour, aka Dallas Green. Sharing the stage with the vibrant Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, it was an evening of pulsing rich melodies and unforgettable, punching moments.
Alex Lahey’s Warm-Up
The night began with Melbourne’s indie darling, Alex Lahey, who brought her signature energy and charm to the stage. Her catchy tunes and laid-back banter had the crowd swaying, laughing, and ready for the magic to come. It was a fantastic warm-up for what was to follow. Can’t wait to see more of this artists work to come 🙂
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Bring the Heat
Next up, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats burst onto the stage and slayed it with their infectious blend of soul, rock, and rhythm. The horn section was a standout, taking each song to euphoric and stratospheric heights. Tracks like ‘S.O.B.’ had the audience singing along, their energy feeding off the band’s electric performance. It was impossible not to feel the groove, as the band poured their heart into every note. ‘Love Don’t’ wrapped it and left us keen and hungry for the headliner. Nathaniel and band gave a killer set!
The Headliners – City and Colour
Then came the moment everyone was waiting for – City and Colour. Dallas Green’s hauntingly beautiful voice filled the venue, sending shivers down spines. His setlist spanned the breadth of his career, with highlights from his latest album, The Love Still Held Me Near.
The crowd was enthralled by the raw emotion of songs like ‘Meant to Be’ and ‘Weightless, and the quiet intensity of his acoustic performances provided a lovely contrast to the fuller, band-backed arrangements. Each song felt deeply personal, as though Green was sharing a piece of his soul with every lyric.
During ‘Hard Hard Time’ – He said that it was the song for people to dance, BUT, said that people could not dance if they didn’t want to, then, did a little political nod, saying that he believes in democracy, especially yesterday. And joked saying that you can dance if you want, but if you decide not to, you’ll be ruining it for everybody else.
In ‘We found each other in the dark’, he mentioned it was a song about being kinder to one another, and a few people applauded. He pointed that out jokingly and said that every show he needs to reinforce it, and said again that it was a song about being kinder to one another, THEN everybody cheered. He then gave a speech about being kind and grateful to be alive, and to share the kindness to the people that were sharing that space, to friends, family and the friends (pointing at the band). He’s a good human.
Further, ‘Northern Wind’ was very romantic, seeing couples slowly dancing together, in many songs actually, but as this was a tender one, he mentioned that, then we saw more couples dancing slowly and kissing.
What an impact he can make on us right?!
The Connection
Making the night full-on special was the connection between the performers and the audience. Dallas’s heartfelt storytelling between songs made it feel like an intimate gathering, despite the grandeur of the venue. The synergy in the room was as one, turning a great performance into something extraordinary.
Adelaide Shines as a Music Hub
This show was yet another reminder of Adelaide’s growing reputation as a cultural and musical hub. The city provided the perfect backdrop for this unforgettable night, and the sold-out crowd proved that Adelaide’s music lovers know how to celebrate talent. We have the power to sell-out shows, we just need to buy tickets earlier rather than later and sitting back with an ‘Nahhhh, I’ll get them later, plenty of time’ approach which only leaves promoters and artists nervous.
The Final Thoughts
City and Colour’s performance was magical and VERY memorable, leaving us fans in awe and the newbies inspired and clamouring to hear more on their streaming devices. Coupled with standout performances from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Alex Lahey, it was a night to rate highly on a pedestal and quality musicianship & entertainment. If you ever get the chance to see City and Colour live next time, take it – you won’t regret a freakin’ thing.
‘Stars?’ you ask? Sure…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.Check out Leo’s FULL GALLERY of images here…
Alex Lahey
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
City and Colour