Review by Grace Brennan Derbyshire

Last time Charley Crockett played in London in November 2022, he performed a sold out show to 450 fans at Camden’s Jazz Cafe. Given how quickly the show sold out, we predicted that he would be performing at a much larger venue during his next visit. Less than a year later, Crockett performed to a crowd of loyal and foot-stomping fans to promote his album ‘The Man From Waco’ at London’s famous O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, which has a capacity of 2,000.

Crockett opened the night to a roaring crowd with fan favorite Run Horse Run, quickly followed by Cowboy Candy and Jukebox Caharley. In his typical fashion, Crockett wasted little time between tracks, performing song after song. Some popular hits from his most recent album included the title track, The Man from Waco and Odessa. He also entertained with catchy tunes from previous albums including Silver Dagger, and Welcome to Hard Times, Music City USA, and Lesson in Depression.

Crockett kept fans engaged with his charismatic stage presence, ensuring that the crowd was thoroughly engaged from start to finish. Wearing his signature Stetson hat, vintage attire, and a voice that carries the weight of his stories, Crockett effortlessly transported his London-based audience to a bygone era of classic American music. His noticeably deep vocals captivated the audience, while evoking a sense of nostalgia to the cowboy-hat wearing crowd. 

Between songs, the singer-songwriter made a point to introduce each member of his supporting band, The Blue Drifters, which consists of five members. He also made a point to share insights about his background, such as speaking about his Texas roots, Louisiana influence, and genre identification.

Despite often being labeled as old country, Crockett told the audience that he considers himself “ain’t nothing but a blues singer” to a cheering crowd. This was before he broke a string on his guitar, yet continued playing like a true professional. It’s worthwhile to note that Crockett’s skillful guitar work added another layer of depth to the show.

The show almost ended with the song In the Night, but was cheered on for seemingly minutes for an encore, which included Crockett’s top-steamed hit, I Am Not Afraid as well as I’m Just a Clown and July Jackson from his most recent album.

Crockett will continue his European tour with Ags Connolly throughout September, before returning to the US to play a few shows in California and then opening for Chris Stapleton on his upcoming US tour in October.

Attendees of any of Crockett’s performances can expect his shows to feel like a journey through the heart of Americana. Crockett remains a truly iconic professional on stage and a must-see artist for anyone, anywhere who appreciates the artistry of roots music.