Nate Smith set our world on fire at The Tivoli on Tuesday night in Brisbane.
Fans stood shoulder to shoulder for three long hours in the rain, their boots soaked but spirits high, waiting for country powerhouse Nate Smith and rapidly rising Australian opener Lane Pittman (28 October).
First to take the stage was Queensland native Pittman, backed by Adam McCaan, Kurt Larkham, Jason Willoughby, and Carter Smyth. With a down-to-earth charm and a voice that carried the grit and warmth of red dirt roads, Lane instantly won hearts throughout the room.
Playing songs like 'Two Feet And A Heartbeat', which is a song inspired by a saying from his mum, each lyric spoke of gratitude and perseverance, resonating with the smiling crowd.
Lane Pittman - image © Clea-marie Thorne
As the set proceeded, Lane leaned into the emotional weight of his writing. Before performing his latest single, 'Right Til Now', he asked the crowd: "Do we have anybody out there who was in a really terrible relationship not so long ago? Have you left that and realised it was the best thing you ever did?"
The audience cheered in recognition. The song, equal parts heartbreak and triumph, felt like an anthem for anyone who'd come out stronger on the other side. However, the night's most poignant moment came when Pittman introduced 'Man I'm Turning Out To Be'.
His voice softened as he explained: "I wrote this song in December of last year about my dad, who passed away back in 2018. I was 11, and I didn't really understand loss, but through this song, I kind of learned that everybody deals with loss in their own way."
As he sang, the venue seemed to fall silent; it was one of those rare moments where a young artist's vulnerability transcended the stage. By the end of his set, Pittman had done more than just warm up the crowd, he'd reminded them why live music matters.
Lane Pittman - image © Clea-marie Thorne
In a short set, he proved himself a storyteller worth following, the kind who turns life's hardest lessons into something beautiful.
When Nate Smith finally hit the stage, the roar that greeted him felt like thunder after the torrential rain earlier in the day. From the first note, it was clear why the American country artist has built such a devoted fanbase. His voice cut through the damp air as he shouted: "This is going to be one of those nights we never forget, y’all!"
Nate's set was a blend of crowd favourites, heartfelt storytelling, and moments of pure gratitude. He even gave fans a taste of what's next, performing an unreleased track titled 'Nights These Days'.
"We'll never forget it. We'll never stop loving you guys," he told the crowd. "Thank you so much for giving your money, your time, and your safety driving over here. I can't believe we sold this thing out."
Nate Smith - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The heart of his set came when Nate shared his deeply personal backstory, a tale that explains the grit behind every note he sings. Before performing 'Sleeve', he recounted his years as a nurse assistant, the wildfire that destroyed his home town, and the long road that led him to Nashville.
"So my friends started a GoFundMe to send me back to Nashville for the second time at 35 years old. So I drove across America, and I slept in my car many, many nights and didn't really have much of a plan.
"I had a little bit of money to pay my first month's rent and my car payment, and I get to Nashville, and I make my payments, and I've got $14 left in my checking account. I've got no other way I pay for bills, and I'm looking at jobs, like, what am I going to do? I don't have a backup plan."
It was a moment that silenced the crowd, his voice breaking slightly as he recalled how that leap of faith led to a meeting with Sony Music. "I told Rusty about my house to my town, my house burned up, and I lost all my childhood things and stuff. He's like, 'Man, it's a really sad story, but we are a song company. Do you have a song you can speak about?? I said, 'yes, sir, I do'."
When he finally played 'Sleeve', the song's message about wearing your heart openly despite pain, hit home. Nate's connection to the fans didn't end. He took time to shake every hand along the front barrier, signed a kid's boot, drew a tattoo of a mallard duck for one fan, and scrawled his name on hats and shirts with a grin that said he'd remember this night, too.
Nate Smith - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Before leaving the stage, Smith gave one last promise: "It's been real, y'all. We'll come back so soon. Make sure you tell them to bring Nate back for CMC next year. But I don't want to leave without hearing you sing 'World On Fire' at the top of your lungs."
The crowd sang at the top of their lungs. The entire venue belted out the song like a battle cry. It was messy, imperfect, and absolutely beautiful, the kind of live music moment that lingers long after the lights go out.
As fans finally trudged home through the puddles, they weren't just leaving a show, they were carrying pieces of the night with them. The rain, the raw emotion, and the reminder that sometimes, music really does save you.
More photos from the concert.
