As the rain poured down outside, the Enmore Theatre played host to one of Ireland’s most famous country singers, Nathan Carter. The venue was not overly crowded and snugly fit the audience onto the lower level, which created a cozy atmosphere on a cold day not too different from the weather over in Carter’s Northern Hemisphere at the moment. 

“I thought it was going to be nice and sunny coming from Ireland but it’s pissing down with rain here too,” Carter remarked much to the amusement of the crowd. 

As Carter entered the stage, he received a warm reception from a crowd spanning many different demographics. From the moment he stepped into the Enmore Theatre, the audience were treated to a rich performance of Irish standards and modern-day country classics. 

Carter has the classic country music voice and the richness of his tone shone through from the very start of his set. But the real highlights of the night came towards the middle of the set, when Carter performed some of the ballads for which he has become known. His cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Baby Can I Hold You” was spine-tingling, with the crowd joining in at the apex of each chorus. Carter got the balance of belting and emotion exactly right, leading to a truly memorable moment. 

Arguably the best number of the night was Carter’s cover of Daniel O’Donnell’s “Home to Donegal” which was performed with all the passion and tenderness of the original as well as incredible range and tone that even the original did not quite have. Carter’s voice really soared in its upper register, which transfixed the audience as he sat at the piano and performed the number. 

It was not just ballads that got the crowd going though, with the atmosphere being one of the most jovial that I have witnessed on the Sydney music scene. By the end of the gig, everyone was up and dancing in their seats, with the whole crowd having a blast. When Carter sung “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, he had the whole crowd singing the lyrics back at him while he strutted around the stage, performing synchronous (and very endearing) choreography with his band. In this regard, the set was very well-paced, with just the right amount of up-tempo numbers to keep the audience on their toes and keep the set balanced with the ballads that showcased Carter’s voice at its best.

Carter closed with his biggest hit, a cover of “Wagon Wheel” before jumping into a medley of Queen, Robbie Williams and ABBA to see out the night. It was an energetic ending which left the audience cheering for him as they exited the venue on a high note. As Carter walked off the stage, he cryptically told the audience he would be back next year, which, given it had taken him 9 years to return since his last tour, would be welcome news to all his fans. 

Ultimately, this was the perfect country music gig. At one point in the night, Carter’s accordion broke down and he said to the audience, “this is how you know this is live”, which ended up being a welcome reminder given just how pitch perfect the show was. Carter and his band are at the top of their game and put on a highly entertaining show that was greatly enjoyed by all in the audience. One can only hope he is true to his word and returns to Australia before next year is out. 

Rating: ★★★★★

Nathan Carter – Enmore Theatre – 29^th November 2024