Zach Bryan at Hyde Park was a ‘charming celebration of country music’

Grammy-winning country star Zach Bryan — often hailed as “Gen Z’s Garth Brooks” — brought his UK and Ireland tour to a jubilant close with a rousing headline performance at BST Hyde Park in London.

Thousands of young country music fans, clad in cowboy hats and boots, braved the sweltering 31C heat on Sunday to see their favourite Oklahoma-born artist live.

Zach Bryan's performance went off with a bang at Hyde Park | Submitted

placeholder image — Zach Bryan's performance went off with a bang at Hyde Park | Submitted

Fresh from playing to 180,000 fans across three sold-out nights at Dublin’s Phoenix Park, the 29-year-old told the London crowd he felt like “the luckiest man in the world.”

Clad in double denim — a bold choice given the heat — Zach Bryan appeared unfazed, delivering a passionate, high-energy set to cap off his European run.

Backed by a 19-piece band, complete with a string quintet and brass section, Bryan opened with his hit “Overtime”, setting the tone for a night of heartfelt, crowd-pleasing country anthems.

Reflecting on his meteoric rise, Bryan recalled performing in London just two years earlier to a few hundred fans at Islington Assembly Hall.

Now, standing before a sold-out crowd of 65,000, he appeared genuinely moved, telling the audience: “Thank you so much for being here, Hyde Park. To be in front of you is such a blessing.”

Over the next two hours, the former US Navy serviceman led fans through a powerful setlist featuring favourites like “Oklahoma Smokeshow”, "Something in the Orange”, and “I Remember Everything”.

A standout moment came when Bryan invited Irish singer and tour support act Dermot Kennedy on stage for a stunning duet of “Hey Driver”. The combination of their heartfelt tones was enough to melt even the hardest of hearts.

As the night drew to a close, Bryan delivered a moving rendition of “Burn, Burn, Burn", followed by the fan-favourite party anthem “Quittin’ Time”.

The two-hour set culminated in a big-band extravaganza, complete with country dancing, fireworks, and an electrifying performance of “Revival”.

Zach Bryan is ushering in a new era of country stardom — one grounded in humility and authenticity, yet matched with a dazzling, professional, and truly jaw-dropping live experience.

He gives the impression of someone who could headline a sold-out stadium tour one night and be up early the next morning to milk the cows — possibly the effect he’s going for.

Dermot Kennedy at BST

Alongside Bryan, festivalgoers were also treated to a performance by Irish singer-songwriter and all-round heartthrob Dermot Kennedy.

The 33-year-old brought fans on an emotional journey through some of his greatest hits, including “Power Over Me”, “Rome”, and “Innocence and Sadness”, during his hour-long set.

The Giants singer apologized for not chatting as much as usual, telling the crowd: “I want to play [you] as many songs as I can.”

Kennedy’s jaw-dropping vocals filled Hyde Park, leaving the audience truly stunned.

Supporting Acts

Other performers on Sunday included a number of rising stars in the country scene, such as Oklahoma natives Turnpike Troubadours, Georgia-born Willow Avalon, and Idaho native Gabriella Rose.