It’s fair to say that Tyler Childers is not the standard country music artist that one sees topping the charts nowadays. A combination of bluegrass, folk, country and honky-tonk, Childers’ style is very traditional in some ways but refreshingly modern in others, combining genres in a unique fusion.

The Hordern Pavillion was packed to the brim as Childers hit the stage, which was somewhat of a miracle given the scores of people trapped outside the venue just before the Kentucky native hit the stage.

Childers launched straight into a solo set filled both with ballads that showed off the incredible range in the singer’s voice as well as rock’n’roll numbers that very much captured the aesthetic of a honky-tonk bar in Nashville. It is always wonderful to see a performer that has the confidence to stand and deliver without distractions, especially at the beginning of the night and Childers truly gave us a glimpse into his incredible musicality. 

A particular highlight from the early part of the set was Childers’ solo set was his acoustic version of “Nose on the Grindstone” which reduced the capacity crowd to complete silence. Childers’ raspy, country tone voice shone through the arena as he worked through blues-style lyrics of the song, performing with absolute clarity and concision. 

Before Childers came onto stage, the crew placed a huge amount of instruments around his post for his band. When they came out onto stage, it was clear their musical stylings were just as eclectic as Childers’, uniquely combining natural and synthesised instruments for a very unique sound.

While Childers has had a great deal of commercial success, there was a raw authenticity about him on stage that presented as eschewing the standard commercial landscape when constructing his sound. His musical stylings were eclectic, but not so much so that they lost the audience. He and his band were jamming and producing beautiful music and the crowd simply loved it. 

Childers admitted that it was a struggle for him to come on the stage for the performance and maintain his motivation throughout the set but as the performance progressed, his energy certainly lifted. 

“When I came up [on stage], I was really not in the mood, it was one of them days,” he said. “But now I’m so happy to be here.”

Childers has a somewhat insular performing style, often facing inward to his band as he played throughout the night but it only furthered the belief among the audience that this was an artist at the top of his craft jamming with his band. They worked through the various styles and eras of Childers’ discography, with the up-tempo “Rustin’ in the Rain” showing off the power of the singer’s upper register being pushed up against slower ballads like the tragic “Whitehouse Road.” This highlighted the wide variety of Childers’ work and his ability to connect with his audience across many different genres and styles.  

The set was long, spanning nearly two hours, but it never once felt overblown, with the skill and craftsmanship on show carrying the energy of the audience throughout the set. There were some esoteric moments, such a synthesised Hare Krishna mantra interspersed in the middle of the main set however, everything was done in a way that felt respectful and indeed, celebratory, which only further added to the melding pot that Childers managed to develop throughout the set. 

Overall, this was an incredibly interesting performance which displayed the highest levels of musicality and performance as Childers and his band put on a show for the adoring audience. The music was varied and Childers was in fine voice but what was most refreshing was the singer’s take on country music, moving very much into his own unique space in the universe of the genre. Given the ever-increasing popularity of country music in Australia, it must only be a matter of time before Childers returns to Australia, most likely with a few more stylistic surprises for his loyal fans. 

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Tyler Childers – Hordern Pavillion – 11^th February 2025

All photo credits: @chrisneavephoto