Review by Jeff Smith – Performance date 29 August 2025, Adelaide Entertainment Centre
One of Australia’s most loved musicians Keith Urban was back in Adelaide for the electrifying finale of the Australian leg of his HIGH AND ALIVE WORLD TOUR.
Charged up with a new band, renewed energy and passion for his craft, Urban had the sold-out crowd in the palm of his hand from the very first notes for a career defining set that that celebrated Keith’s position as a global music superstar.
Setting the Scene
The Entertainment Centre Arena was a buzz with anticipation for Urban’s return to South Australia for the first time since 2022.
South Australians had travelled from afar to spend the night with Keith for the last stop on this Australian tour in support of his latest album, HIGH.
The vibe is one of being amongst friends who are connected through their genuine admiration for their musical hero and a love of Urban’s timeless catalogue.
Keith Urban live is more than a concert, it’s an event that tonight kicks off with Nashville singer songwriter Chase Matthew who is making his Australian debut setting the stage for Urban.
Matthew is a star on the rise, commanding with his instantly catchy tunes and a charisma that set the room on fire. The 27-year-old is quite literally born for the stage and is one to watch in global country music. Tracks like ‘Country Line’, ‘Darlin’ and ‘Love You Again’ were warmly embraced by the Urban faithful, with fans counting down to his yet to be announced 2026 Australian tour.
Chase spoke with genuine gratitude for the moment, connecting with the crowd and leaving a lasting impression.
True Homecoming
Keith Urban is back home on Australian soil, where he is clearly loving every second and interacting with fans at every opportunity. Tonight’s show is testament to the strength of Urban’s Australian roots.
These roots power tonight’s performance which is genuine, full of soul and a warmth felt between artist and audience.
Keith’s nod to Thursday nights at The Gov in his early years reminded us how far he has come. At heart, Urban is still a boy in Queensland with a dream and this is part of his appeal.
Tonight, he is firing on all cylinders and the show feels like an Aussie celebration with classics from The Angels and Men At Work making appearances.
Effortless Musicianship
The musicianship on display tonight was nothing short of world-class with Urban’s virtuosic guitar chops on show from the opening notes of ‘Straight Line’. He’s in a league of his own, with his ripping guitar solos taking the songs to a new dimension in the live setting.
Armed with a new band line-up this tour sees a more playful Urban experimenting and pushing the musical boundaries to a new level. The focus was more on the musicianship over the production.
The band comprising of Pete Kuzma (keyboards), Jimmy Paxton (drums), Katie Ohh (vocals/ guitar), Josh Kearney (guitar), Kevin MacIntire (bass/ vocals) and Australian Gabbi Louise (fiddle) were absolutely on point with a deep respect for their leader evident. This an exciting new era for Urban and yet another chapter in his incredible journey.
The Set List and Highlights
The setlist was near perfect for any Keith Urban fan, peppered with the old and new. All of the hits and classics were on show. From ‘Where the Blacktop Ends’ to ‘Long Hot Summer’ to ‘You Look Good In My Shirt’ the energy was quickly set and maintained across a two and a half hour show.
Highlights were many and included the heartfelt ‘Parallel Line’, the light show that came with ‘Till Summer Comes Around’ and the showstopping ‘The Fighter’, with Katie Ohh stepping in for Carrie Underwood.
‘One Too Many’ saw a virtual cameo from Pink and led to Keith running through the crowd to his Stage B, where a solo acoustic set had fans captivated.
Final Thoughts
Adelaide welcomed Keith Urban with open arms for a night of connection, celebration and great music.
Urban transformed the arena into an intimate pub-like setting, giving every fan a front row seat to one of the best country rock shows on the planet.
Keith left Adelaide on a HIGH with new memories and an anticipation for his return to Australian soil.
A Five-star show!
