The platinum-selling artist, Jordan Davis, brought his pop-country vibe to a sold-out show in Manchester on Sunday night, supported by the emerging talent Ashley Cooke, as part of their ongoing Damn Good Time World Tour across Europe.

Back home in the USA, Jordan is a well-established artist with four Billboard Country Airplay number one hits to his name since his debut in 2018. After gracing the stage as one of the main acts at C2C last year, he now headlines his own tour, selling out venues like the Manchester Academy.

As I joined the bustling crowd outside the venue, it was impossible to miss the sea of cowboy hats and accessories, a testament to the growing enthusiasm for country music in the UK. This trend, previously witnessed at Luke Combs' Manchester Arena show, seems to be becoming a norm at country gigs across the city. I was also surprised by how busy the venue was in general; with a reported capacity of 2,600, it was definitely at its limits.

Following Ashley Cooke's strong opening performance, Jordan Davis launched into the evening with "Damn Good Time," the vibrant lead track from his latest album, setting the tone perfectly. Soon after, fans were delighted with one of his most renowned hits, the infectious and uplifting "Singles You Up," boasting an impressive 300 million streams on Spotify alone. As the crowd joined in singing along, Davis effortlessly held their attention throughout his set, infusing it with nostalgic flair through tracks like "Whiskey Weak" and the heartfelt breakup anthem "Lose You."

A highlight of the evening was when Ashley Cooke joined Davis on stage for "Cool Anymore," adding a refreshing dynamic to the performance that Jordan originally recorded with Julia Michaels. Davis closed out the night with fan favourites including "Slow Dance In A Parking Lot" (which, for me, is my favourite track of his), "Take It From Me," and ending with the poignant "Buy Dirt," a song which he released with country giant Luke Bryan.

About Buy Dirt, Davis said:

I wrote this song about the three most important things in my life, that's my faith, my family and my friends". 

During the set, Dylan Williams, Davis' guitarist, showcased his impressive skills throughout, and even subtly paid homage to Manchester by seamlessly weaving in a snippet of Oasis' "Champagne Supernova" solo at the end of "Slow Dance In A Parking Lot." Despite a passing mention of Manchester City FC, Davis adeptly steered the conversation back to the music, keeping the focus on the performance.

While Davis' recorded music may sometimes blend into the pop-country landscape, witnessing his live performance reveals his true artistry. His exceptional vocals, backed by talented musicians, and compelling storytelling make for an unforgettable experience that transcends his studio recordings.

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and Managing Director of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.