GALLERY & REVIEW | Keith Urban by Jaz Wilkins - Brisbane, 2025

If you live in Australia, then the name Keith Urban should definitely ring a bell for you. Since the release of his 1999 self-titled album Keith Urban, he has become a defining figure in the Australian country music scene while also reaching new heights of international acclaim, topping the charts worldwide. Now, with twelve studio albums and a career spanning three decades under his belt, Keith has finally come back to his home state of Queensland, Australia. Promoting his 2024 album titled ‘HIGH’,  the Australian leg of Urban’s ‘HIGH AND ALIVE WORLD TOUR’ brings nine arena shows across four Australian states for the first time since 2022. I want to express a huge thank you to TEG Live and Keith’s team for having me last night, I had an absolute blast covering this show from start to finish.

The evening started out like any other August day in Australia. The air was cool and crisp as the sun went down, but the energy was burning ‘high and alive’ at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre last night. Fans of all ages gathered around the venue's entry points, eagerly waiting to get inside and experience the show ahead. Once the gates opened at 5:30 and everyone rushed inside, some patrons dispersed to the merchandise stand hoping to get first dibs on exclusive tour merch, while others entered the arena to find their seats and get comfortable for an eventful night of music ahead. 

Finally, at 8:50pm, the lights finally dimmed and the crowd roared in anticipation as they waited for the curtain in front of the stage to drop. When it did, Urban was revealed and wasted no time, jumping into the first song of the night, Straight Line, from his album, HIGH. The catchy, upbeat opener was the perfect choice to get the audience singing along and warmed up for a long night of their favourite songs. As the evening rolled on, the energy only heightened with the attendees inside the arena jumping and singing along to every track, pouring their hearts into each song on the set. 

As the night progressed, Urban played song after song from his latest album, giving his Australia fans the chance to hear their new favourite tracks live for the first time. But of course, it wouldn’t be a Keith Urban concert if he didn’t play his older, chart-topping tracks that made his fans fall in love with his music all those years ago. From the upbeat country ballad Where the Blacktop Ends to the heartfelt love anthem of Somebody Like You, the audience sang along like the night would never end. The couples in the crowd hugged each other from behind, gently swaying side to side in their sparkly cowboy boots, truly living in the moment with one another. Towards the end of the night, Urban graced his younger Brisbane audience with a cover of Pink Pony Club by the incredible Chappell Roan. Those who knew the song sang along to their hearts content, while others watched onwards, gazing at the intimate moment Urban was sharing with his fans.

As the final tracks of the night played over the PA, audience members sang along until their throats went hoarse and the final notes rang out. Slowly but surely and one by one, the audience trickled out down the venue stairs and dispersed towards the car park.  The familiar hum of voices buzzed through the air as everyone discussed their favourite parts of the night. All in all, Keith Urban’s first Brisbane show since 2022 was not one to be missed, and I can imagine the next two Brisbane shows tonight and tomorrow night will be the same, if not more intense and higher energy than the first one. From his skills on the guitar to his masterful storytelling and heavily relatable lyricism, Urban truly gave it his all during last night's performance. Whether you’re a newer fan or a diehard fan from his early days, the show offered a sense of unity, with fans from multiple generations all forming together and bonding over their love and appreciation for Urban and his music. His show was incredible, and I think I can safely say that on behalf of all of Urban’s fans, we can't wait for him to come back home once again. 

GALLERY: Keith Urban - Brisbane, 2025

All photos: © Jaz Wilkins