Brantley Gilbert Ignites Athens_ A Night of Country Rock, Surprises, and Next-Gen Stars
Brantley Gilbert brought the heat to the brand-new Akins Ford Arena in Athens, GA, turning a Friday night into an all-out country rock party. With a killer lineup, surprise guests, and a few heartfelt moments, this show had everything fans could ask for.
All Photos By: Lindsi Rian CreativeKicking things off was Austin Snell, who got the crowd fired up with his mix of country and rock. His set, featuring hits like "Excuse the Mess" and "Pray All the Way Home," had fans singing along early, setting the perfect vibe for the night ahead.
Then came Black Stone Cherry and damn, did they bring the energy! These guys know how to put on a show, ripping through tracks like "White Trash Millionaire" and "Blame it on the Boom Boom" with blazing guitars, high kicks and nonstop intensity. By the time they wrapped up, they had won over a whole new wave of fans, with the majority of the crowd raising their hands when asked if it was their first time seeing the band perform.
Originally, Athens native Colt Ford was set to play before Black Stone Cherry, but unfortunately, he had to cancel his set due to some side effects that came with his continued healing from his 2024 heart attack that happened almost a year to date. That didn’t stop him from making a surprise appearance later, though! When he jumped on stage with Brantley for some throwback jams, the crowd absolutely lost it. It was a moment fans weren’t expecting, but definitely won’t forget when he came out from the side stage and sang those first few lyrics of Dirt Road Anthem.
Brantley Gilbert came out hot, with pyrotechnics lighting up the stage, and did not disappoint. From the first note, he had the crowd in the palm of his hand, tearing through hits like "Kick It in the Sticks" and an acoustic version of "You Don’t Know Her Like I Do." But the best part? When he brought his son, Braylen, out to sing "Dirty Money" with him. Braylen took over the stage, following his dad towards the crowd like an absolute natural. Who knows? We might have just witnessed the rise of country rock’s next big star.
Akins Ford Arena proved it’s got what it takes to host big-time shows, and Brantley Gilbert made sure his debut concert there was one for the books. With an incredible lineup, surprise moments, and a whole lot of heart, this was a night Athens country fans won’t stop talking about anytime soon.
