Performing at Birmingham’s O2 academy ahead of his Highways Festival debut, Brett Young captured the hearts of his UK fans all over again. Young last performed in the UK in November 2022 so fans haven’t had to wait too long, but the reception last night was clear that, incase he didn’t know, the UK is crazy about him.

Showcasing a whopping 21 songs, including the ever popular ‘Stick Season’ by Noah Kahan, Young treated fans to music from first album to his most recent release.

Young is the master of a smouldering look, and he soaked up every opportunity to stare his rich blue eyes into the depths of his audience, attracting squeals of delight from fans of all ages.

Opening the show with, ‘Sleep Without You’ – the opening number on his self-titled debut album – the crowd demonstrates their lung capacity within the first five seconds. His video relay on the screen behind him his out of time by a second but there’s no concerns from his fans as everyone’s eyes are glued to him.

“You know my songs,” he says as he takes his first break to chat to his audience, “they’re sad songs and love songs.” The love that Young sings about is the adoration of his wife, Taylor, elevated through their wedding video that played during ‘Dance With You’, climaxing with him turning and facing his wife on the screen as he fell to his knees and sang the final line, I only want to do dance with you. There was also a loving dedication to their children as a video montage played during ‘Lady’, showing their family with their first baby.

Young is a seasoned performer and knows how to work the stage. He connects with his audience in the balcony and the stalls as well as the front row and those way in the back, whether it’s through crouching down and singing directly to them for songs like ‘You Ain’t Here to Kiss Me’ or bringing out his stool for his more emotional numbers like ‘Let Go Too Soon’ – everyone feels a bit of the Brett Young magic.

The stage lighting and screen matches the emotive nature of his songs, evoking stormy relationship tribulations through turbulent waves crashing against a rocky lighthouse for ‘Like I Loved You’ juxtaposed with warm lustrous lighting and jazzy palm trees for the more upbeat, ‘Ticket to LA’.

Young keeps his cards close to his chest throughout his set, not giving much of his personality away – that is, until he comes to introduce his band. “We don’t need to prove anything,” he says as it comes to this point in his show, “but I’d like to prove to you that I have the most talented band in country music”. Going against the grain of a classic ‘give it up for the band’, Young spotlights each member, giving them space to perform a solo song. He relaxes back on to an armchair at the side of the stage and acts as a cheeky narrator, introducing each band member with fondness and pride.

Sharing an anecdote from a recent date night with his wife where they went to see a John Mayer concert, Young laughs with his fans that it wasn’t a great idea because he was locked in for an hour and a half and his wife ended up with a night to herself. This segues into his acknowledgement of the attentiveness of UK fans, “we come over here and experience a crowd doing that for 90 minutes and we appreciate you. Let’s cry together,” he says as he moves into the heart-breaking ‘Mercy’.

He also gives exposure to his crew, bringing them and their instruments on to share in ‘You Got Away With It’ – “they’re only going to party as hard as you do,” he says as they kick off the fun, up tempo number. The energy is high and pours off the stage into the crowd.

Young finishes his main set with ‘In Case You Didn’t Know’ after encouraging fans to “pull together a slow dance during this song – seriously, you’re welcome”. The O2 is rife with love, and couples do their best to slow dance amongst the crowd – a song very much associated with first dances at weddings.

Young and his band close out their show with two encores, ‘Used to Missin’ You’ and ‘Here Tonight’. “The louder you sing the happier I leave tonight,” he says for the latter and the crowd gave it everything they had.

Brett Young puts on a brilliant show – he makes everyone feel part of something special and provided high energy emotion throughout the whole set.