Live Report: Zach Bryan sparks a country explosion in Cork

If there was any doubt about how American country titan Zach Bryan would be received in the Real Capital on Saturday night – the first of his two-gig spectacular – Bryan buried all doubts in the River Lee straight away.

"I gotta fucking move to Cork, guys," Bryan told a completely packed, roaring stadium while standing on the piano in the centre of the stage. "The Dublin crowds are quiet compared to this — don't tell them I said that!”

Following which – under the glorious glow of a midsummer evening – the Oklahoma singer-songwriter delivered a colossal, high-energy performance that rocked the renowned GAA venue to its very foundations.

Following stellar opening sets from Fey Fili and Dijon, Bryan arrived slightly before 8:30pm to a rapturous reception, launching straight into a one-two sequence that set the tone for the entire night.

“How ya feeling, Rebel County?” the US country sensation yelled before bursting into ‘Overtime’. The crowd's energy immediately surged. Then, when he seamlessly slipped into 'Open The Gates', the surge transitioned into delirium.

Zach Bryan at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Photo: Trevor McGrath

‘Dawns' proved to be an early turning point for those seated in the stands. The haunting, emotional track brought thousands to their feet, transforming the stadium into a sea of swaying lights and shouted lyrics. Bryan proceeded to stack the night with massive crowd-pleasers, including 'Say Why’, 'Nine Ball', and his towering duet 'I Remember Everything'. Backed by an incredibly tight, roaring live band, his gritty vocals cut cleanly across the stadium air.

"You might be the best crowd I've performed for in my life,” he said. “Thank you very much. I want to thank you, kind people of Cork, for coming out to see us, it really means everything to me."

Zach Bryan at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Photo: Trevor McGrath

It wasn't just the music that made Saturday night truly special. The crowd played their part brilliantly too. The pitch was flooded with a vibrant, young, and deeply passionate, audience that knew every single word of even his deepest cuts.

Commanding tens of thousands of onlookers with absolute ease, Bryan proved exactly why he’s one of the most compelling live acts in the world right now. During his massive, extended encore performance of ‘Revival', he sent the crowd into a frenzy by scaling the stage rigging. And to top it all off, as the final chords rang out, a huge fireworks display lit up the sky over the stadium.

That was some gig, folks!