There is no doubt that country music in Australia is alive and well. Even as festivals are struggling to maintain demand, country music festivals are still powering on, with the Lasso Music Festival in Queensland warming up winter this year. Its headliner was US country star Drake Milligan, who performed a Sydney sideshow at the intimate Liberty Hall as a precursor to the festival.

He was supported by Mack Geiger, who has exploded onto the Australian country music scene of late and did a great job with his performance here, with his smash hit “String By” making him a great opener for the crowd. Indeed, Milligan acknowledged during his own set that it was a big honour for Geiger to be filling the support role.

Milligan kicked off his set with arguably his biggest hit, “Sounds Like Something I’d Do”, and it was an energetic start that really showed off his range as a performer. His band were on fire from the outset and he fed off their energy with a great stage presence, captivating the crowd throughout. His vocals were consistently powerful and effortless, moving comfortably between classic country crooning and rock-infused anthems. He followed it up with “Bad Day to Be a Beer” and “Tipping Point”, really frontloading the set with his hits, which was a good choice as it immediately engaged the audience and introduced them to Milligan at his very best.

“This is my first ever headline show in Sydney,” Milligan said to a cheer from the audience. 

Milligan has very much an Elvis feel to his persona, with a real swagger about him and some vocalisations that wouldn’t feel out of place in Memphis, with a self-professed love for classic country. Very few country singers today have that genuine rock and blues sensibility in the way that Milligan does and he has a presence and a style that feels like a hark back to the country singers of yesteryear, making him a fascinating performer to watch.

Milligan’s set was lengthy and perhaps a little too long, running for nearly two hours but as an emerging artist this was still possibly the best route to acquaint him fully with the audience and his work stoop up to the length. Milligan ensured the set remained varied throughout, performing most of his discography, including the entirety of his Tumbleweed album, but the set was well constructed and also featured many nods to classic country while also showing that he can hold his own alongside the stars of modern ‘bro country’.

Milligan also threw in some great covers, with the highlight being a roaring rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Burning Love”, which he absolutely nailed, bringing another level of energy to the room and further showcasing both his vocal power and commanding stage presence. The crowd were passionate throughout the night and really connected with Milligan, who stuck around afterwards to take photos with fans in what was a fitting end to a wonderful night of music.

“Thank you for being a part of this show,” Milligan said as he closed out the night. 

Overall, this was an excellent show that really showcased Milligan’s vocal power and commanding stage presence. It’s rare to find a country artist nowadays with so many nods to the country music of yesteryear while still feeling current and fresh but Milligan managed that balance exceptionally well. While the set was quite long and perhaps too long for this early stage of his career, he kept the audience entertained and ensured it was a wonderful experience for everyone at the venue. With country music booming in Australia, it’s a safe bet to assume that Milligan won’t be playing Liberty Hall next time he returns to the Harbour City, and with his words, there can be little doubt that he’ll be back again very soon.

Rating: ★★★★

Drake Milligan – Liberty Hall – 9 July 2026