NASHVILLE: IN CONCERT | LIVE REVIEW
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Fri 20 Apr
Fans of popular country music-themed American TV series Nashville flooded to the Welsh capital this past Friday night as five of the programme’s top stars brought the songs from the show to the stage in what is billed as their farewell tour. Since the show’s debut in 2012 we are now six seasons down the road of a rollercoaster journey and nearing the last months and final episodes of the series. To tie in with the departure of their characters, the tour consists of standout actors and artists Charles Esten (Deacon), Clare Bowen (Scarlett), Sam Palladio (Gunnar), Jonathan Jackson (Avery) and Chris Carmack (Will).
As the arena lights dimmed, Esten took centre stage with the words “This is the first song you heard on Nashville”. A fitting beginning to a farewell tour concert, with opening song Back Home from the series pilot. Esten was joined by his other four cast members to kick of the show with a bang, and the night continued with all five switching in and out, singing solo and in various combinations.
Jonathan Jackson kept the set moving on with emotional takes on Keep Asking Why and Simple Minds’ Belfast Child, before passing the baton to Chris Carmack who belted out hits What If I Was Willing and Movin’ On Never Felt So Good.
British cast member Sam Palladio got a big welcome to the stage, stating that Cardiff was as close to a hometown show he was going to get having been brought up in Cornwall; showing off on both guitar and drums, Adios Old Friend was a poignant send-off to his character Gunnar Scott. Australian Clare Bowen brought the haunting sound of Nashville’s Scarlett O’Connor to life with a spellbinding performance of Black Roses. The standing ovation received seemed to last forever, before Esten returned and the pair danced in the aisles of the Motorpoint to crowd pleaser Hand To Hold.
The show’s second half kicked off with Palladio, Carmack and Jackson’s upbeat Go With It, before Palladio and Clare Bowen gave a beautiful rendition of duet Fade Into You. It was Jonathan Jackson’s time to shine next as he covered the classic Unchained Melody, the arena’s capacity crowd stared in awe at the range and emotion he transformed into song. Quite a moment. Esten returned to play out some tracks from his character Deacon Claybourne’s repertoire: hit song Sanctuary stood out by a mile, before smoothly slipping into a cover of Don’t Look Back In Anger.
Encore song A Life That’s Good brought an incredible night to a close, allowing each of the five cast members to shine one last time and sending an already lucky crowd home with a spring in their country step.
words OWEN SCOURFIELD photos PHILL POTTER