★★★★★

If you spotted an unusual number of Stetsons, cowboys, and cowgirls converging on Wembley Stadium this weekend, there was good reason: Luke Combs, one of country music's biggest stars, had arrived in London.

Country music — the quintessential American genre — might seem an unlikely fit for the home of English football, but it has been steadily gaining momentum in the UK. According to the United Kingdom Country Music Association, country music consumption is growing faster in Britain than anywhere else in the world, with streams surpassing one billion in Q3 2025 — only the third time that milestone has been reached. That growth has been bolstered by events like the annual C2C (Country to Country) festival, which has brought Nashville's biggest names to London, Glasgow, and Dublin since 2013 and helped seed the audience now filling 90,000-seat venues like Wembley.

The genre's presence has arguably never been stronger. Beyond stadium tours, television series such as Yellowstone, Dutton Ranch, and Landman are introducing country soundtracks to British audiences, while venues like Lil' Nashville in London's Chiswick offer regular line-dancing nights.

Country has also been crossing into the pop mainstream with increasing frequency. In 2024, Beyoncé became the first Black artist to top the UK chart with a country album, Cowboy Carter, and Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" emerged as another major crossover hit that year. Taylor Swift, now a global superstar, also began her career in country music.

A Show Both Huge and Intimate

The support acts for the weekend-long Wembley run collectively boast around 20 million Spotify listeners, reflecting the remarkable range within the genre.

Sister trio The Castellows opened the evening, evoking country heritage with crystalline vocals and tuneful melodies reminiscent of legends like Emmylou Harris and, arguably, Dolly Parton herself.

Ty Myers delivered a sound true to the title of his latest album, Heavy on the Soul. His affection for London was evident, highlighted by a striking cover of Amy Winehouse's version of "Valerie."

Thomas Rhett, a country superstar in his own right, blended the Morgan Wallen-esque modern beats of his newer track "After All The Bars Are Closed" with the feel-good romance of his hit "Make Me Wanna."

In a media landscape oversaturated with content, country music's enduring appeal lies in genuine human storytelling — tales of love and loss, toil and hardship, beer and barflies. Before a packed Wembley crowd, Luke Combs — a multiple CMA and ACM award winner who has dominated country charts since his breakthrough single "Hurricane" in 2016 — proved himself a master of the craft.

Personal Stories Front and Centre

Combs' recent album, The Way I Am, may be his most consistently brilliant work to date. Opening to the crowd-pleasing sounds of "Sweet Caroline," he launched directly into the new feel-good anthem and tour namesake, "My Kinda Saturday Night."

He established the tone for an evening that could feel as intimate as a Texas honky-tonk dancefloor yet as grand as Wembley Stadium itself.

"Tell 'Em About Tonight" offered some of his most personal reflections on his career and the ephemeral nature of fame. In the song, he envisions a future where "the only place you might see my name, is on a T-shirt in a closet takin' up space."

His setlist wove together fan favourites such as the lighthearted breakup anthem "When It Rains It Pours" with deeper cuts like "Houston, We Got a Problem." One of the night's biggest sing-alongs came from "The Kind of Love We Make."

One of Combs' great strengths is his ability to command attention. Pacing the stage, he maintained an open and confessional rapport with the audience — expressing gratitude for the moment, speaking about his love for his wife on the eve of their sixth wedding anniversary, and sharing the personal significance behind upcoming songs.

Former Chelsea and England defender John Terry made a surprise appearance to shotgun a beer during "1, 2 Many," before Combs closed the main set, fittingly, with "Beer Never Broke My Heart."

Returning to thunderous applause, Combs opened his encore with his widely acclaimed cover of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" — a rare cover that an artist truly makes their own while honouring the original's legacy.

Powerhouse Vocals and a Rousing Finale

Next came one of Combs' signature tracks, "Where the Wild Things Are," which had the crowd going wild. The song tells the story of a man who lost his older brother in a motorcycle crash, juxtaposing the "Wild Things" of Southern California's bright lights with the quiet rural setting where his brother is laid to rest.

He closed with "Ain't No Love in Oklahoma," the lead track from the Twisters film soundtrack. Combs' powerhouse vocals captured the song's contradictions: "I keep running, but I'm standing still. Pray for peace, but I need the thrill."

On this thrilling night at Wembley, the UK demonstrated its growing appetite for country music — the distant folk tradition of a romantic way of life quite different from our own. After all, Britain may have The Crown, but it doesn't have cowboys.

The reviewer was a guest of Experiences by Wembley Stadium, whose Bobby Moore Lounge offers country-themed buffet-style dishes, drinks, a DJ playing country music, and padded stadium seating.