With some of the biggest artists in country music in town for the CMC Rocks Festival, Sydney has had the benefit of a plethora of side shows as the stars have filled out their Australian trip with solo performances. With Jon Pardi, Thomas Rhett and Cody Johnson all performing sets over the course of this week, there is no doubt that this is the best week for country music in Sydney as well as the rest of Australia.

Unlike many other solo shows, these festival side shows enjoy the benefit of having highly established acts as support. For this concert, Pardi was supported by Zach Top and Larry Fleet, meaning that from 7pm the venue was filled to the brim with a true festival-style atmosphere. 

Zach Top kicked off proceedings with a half an hour set that was so polished that every single person in the crowd was longing for more. A relative newcomer onto the country music scene, Top has been touted as the heir to Alan Jackson and brought a classic style of country music to the Hordern stage. His voice was smooth and delicate, with just enough grit to convey the emotion in his wonderful songs. Top squeezed all of his biggest hits into his 30 minute set, with “Sounds Like the Radio” kicking off the night before he moved onto “I Never Lie” as his penultimate song. It was a fabulous set and the audience loved every minute. It’s safe to say that the next time Top is in Australia, he will be headlining his own concert. 

Larry Fleet was next and he also performed a fantastic set, full of energy, heart and passion. He was ably backed by a fantastic band, with his bassist “Crazy Legs” being a particular highlight of the set with his audacious costume and dance moves. Both openers were of the highest quality and set the tone for when Pardi hit the stage. 

Pardi is very much a modern honky-tonk artist, with a thick, rich country voice and a fantastic stage presence. Once he entered the arena, it was party mode and he knew it too. From his opening number, “Honkytonk Hollywood” to his newer songs like “Friday Night Heartbreaker”, he had the crowd in the palm of his hand as he stood in the middle of the stage with guitar in hand. 

Pardi’s band were sublime throughout, with fantastic guitar solos in “Dirt on My Boots” to show off their artistry. There were a few slower moments in the set but mainly, Pardi played up-tempo, thumping numbers for the audience to get lost in and they certainly did. The atmosphere was electric and the whole of Pardi’s band fed off the energy. 

Pardi saved his biggest hits for the end of the set, playing them in a procession with “Dirt on My Boots” getting the crowd going before “Heartache Medication” and later “Night Shift” and “Head Over Boots” in the encore carrying the momentum. It was a fantastic way to end what was a great celebration of country music. 

“This is going down as one of our best shows ever in the whole world,” said Pardi at the end of the set. It was clear the audience thought so as well. 

Overall, this was a superb show, with three absolutely fabulous country performers showing off their very best on stage. Pardi brought the hits and the energy with a barnstorming performance but arguably, it was Top who stole the show from the moment doors opened with a gorgeous, measured and encapsulating set. This felt very much like three concerts in one, with all being strong enough to stand alone if required. The fact that they were combined only amplified the privilege for all those in the audience who got to witness a very special night of country music. 

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Jon Pardi – Hordern Pavillion – 20 March 2025