Kelsea Ballerini, Country’s Newest Starlet at The O2

by | Oct 11, 2017

They don’t come much more Country than rising Nashville born and raised star Kelsea Ballerini, even though the 24-year-old grew up on a diet of pop, only delving into Country later on. And that might explain her catchy, hook-laden pop-country tunes that had her named CMT’s Next Woman of Country back in 2014.

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

Appearing on stage in a star-spangled blue cut-off dress, silver hot pants and sparkly heels, if we didn’t already know that Lady Antebellum where the main act tonight, Ballerini could easily have been mistaken for the headliner, breaking straight into her first single and biggest hit Love Me Like You Mean It with the energy and presence of a veteran.

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

“Is it okay if we play some new music for you tonight?” she asked of her audience, many already on their feet in the all-seated arena, before breaking into sophomore record Unapologetically song Roses, Ballerini making full use of the massive arena stage, reaching out to the crowd to the left and right during the up-tempo pop ballad.

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

“London! How are we doing?” she screamed at the crowd. “It is my second time here, I am obsessed with you and I’m so happy to be back, playing at The O2!” before requesting the crowd sing along with hit 2015 single Dibs, Reid Johnson’s guitar solo adding the rock to the country-pop tune.

Reid Johnson (Kalpesh Patel)

Reid Johnson (Kalpesh Patel)

Speaking about writing her second record she said: “I wanted it to be about everything that’s changed since the first one came out”. “The biggest change is that I’m newly engaged” she continued to cheers from the audience, introducing new album cut I Hate Love Songs, going on to sing it kneeling on the huge O2 Arena stage.

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

The new album’s title track Unapologetically was up next, the huge screen backdrop adorned with footage of Ballerini and fiancé (and Country music star) Morgan Evans, the ballad closed out with the opening lyrics to Elvis Presley hit Can’t Help Falling In Love.

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

“Where are my girls at?” the 24-year-old screamed, before dedicating Stilettos to the female contingent, Ballerini strapping on a guitar for the downbeat tune, it’s chorus oddly reminiscent of Miley Cyrus’ hit Wrecking Ball. Crowd participation was encouraged by the Nashville resident for recent UK single XO, the faster tune enhanced by Ballerini rocking her black Gibson Les Paul guitar and even joining her drummer with a stick of her own, the energy high at The O2 before the band departed the stage.

Ian O'Neill (Kalpesh Patel)

Ian O’Neill (Kalpesh Patel)

A short, stripped-back covers section followed with Ballerini strumming an acoustic guitar while weaving the tale of her first heartbreak through snippets of James Bay hit Let It Go, Justin Bieber smash Sorry and One Republic’s breakthrough single Apologize, the tale concluding with the band returning to the stage and kicking off hit single Peter Pan, Ballerini prompting the crowd to light up the arena with their mobile phones.

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

The set was rounded out with latest single Legends, announced by Ballerini as being released in the UK this week, before being closed out with 2016 single Yeah Boy, the crowd requested to be upstanding for her last song for the last night of the tour.

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

It’s clear to see why Ballerini is here tonight, opening for arguably one of the biggest Country acts of today but bringing her own star power to The O2 stage. While her first trip across the pond might only have been a few months back, playing at Chelsea’s Under The Bridge venue, she’s clearly destined for bigger and brighter things.

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

Kelsea Ballerini (Kalpesh Patel)

Ballerini returns to The O2 next March where she’ll play alongside the breadth and depth of today’s Country acts as part of the sixth C2C music festival, headlined by the king and queen of Country Tim McGraw and wife Faith Hill, Kacey Musgraves and Little Big Town.

Live review and photography of Kelsea Ballerini @ The O2 Arena by Kalpesh Patel on 10th October 2017.

Kalpesh has more music photography up on his flickr stream here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/somethingforkate

 

https://rockshotmagazine.com/28575/maddie-tae-bring-country-to-camden/

Henge performing at The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea

Henge Bring Psychedelic Rock From Parts Unknown To Portsmouth’s Wedgewood Rooms

Recently, the dirty deeds of squillionaires running their private space tourism businesses, and the world laughing at...
Yungblud (Tom Pallant)

YUNGBLUD Announces Bold Fourth Studio Album ‘Idols’

British rock trailblazer Dominic Harrison – AKA YUNGBLUD – has officially announced his highly anticipated fourth...
REEF (Press)

REEF Celebrate 30 Years Of ‘Replenish’ With UK Anniversary Tour

In a year packed with big anniversaries and nostalgic reunions, one of Britain’s most beloved rock acts is marking a...
Wolf Alice (Press)

Wolf Alice Return With Euphoric New Single ‘Bloom Baby Bloom’

London’s genre-defying quartet Wolf Alice have returned in full bloom with their new single, Bloom Baby Bloom—a vibrant, effervescent track that signals a fresh chapter for one of Britain’s most dynamic modern rock bands. Released after a period of relative silence since their Mercury Prize-winning 2021 album Blue Weekend, the single has sent ripples through the alternative scene, sparking excitement about what might be next for the group.

Pet Needs (Vanessa Söllner)

Pet Needs Are Primetime Entertainment At The Old Church

It’s lunchtime in sunny Stoke Newington, the part of London that really feels like a village. Most of the crowd lined up outside the historic Old Church are making this the first stop on their weekend, and as they mingle among the old tombstones with beers in hand, the anticipation is fizzing in the air. For the fourth year in a row, Pet Needs are about to kick off their Fractured Party weekender, and we’ve so far beyond ready for it.

Alice Phoebe Lou @ Roundhouse (Sam Eve)

Alice Phoebe Lou Enchants London At The Roundhouse

On Friday, 2nd May, 2025, the Roundhouse in London played host to a spellbinding performance by South African-born...
Lizzie Esau @ The Grace (Kalpesh Patel

Lizzie Esau Unleashes Explosive New Single ‘Bugs’ — A Dark, Defiant Step Forward From A Rockshot Favourite

Rockshot Magazine favourite Lizzie Esau continues her rapid ascent through the UK’s alt-rock landscape with the release of her most accomplished single to date, Bugs. A darkly euphoric track filled with emotional grit and lyrical nuance, Bugs sees the 25-year-old Newcastle native confront the chaos of creative self-doubt with ferocity — and catharsis.

EMMMA (João Viegas)

EMMMA Finds Power In Heartache With Stirring New Single ‘Wednesday’s Child’

EMMMA is no stranger to vulnerability — but with her latest single, Wednesday’s Child, the rising UK-based alt-pop artist turns raw emotion into a seismic act of self-empowerment. Released as the next step toward her second EP, the track is a defining moment in her artistic evolution: darker, bolder, and more emotionally fearless than anything she’s released before.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing