In a festival often dominated by heavyweight pop, Tanner Adell’s mid-afternoon set on the Rainbow Stage offered a thrilling detour into rhinestone-studded country pop — with a Gen Z twist and plenty of attitude. On a stacked BST Hyde Park Sunday that saw Sabrina Carpenter headline the Great Oak Stage for the second time of the weekend, it was Adell who delivered one of the day’s most memorable performances before the heavens opened and drenched London in a biblical downpour.
With her platinum-blonde curls, bedazzled fringe, and infectious energy, Tanner Adell strutted on stage with opener Do-Si-Don’tcha, an irresistibly sassy twang-laden banger that wasted no time getting the crowd two-stepping. From the first beat, Adell was magnetic — part Nashville diva, part TikTok-era icon, fusing traditional Southern charm with pop swagger and a sharp lyrical bite.
That duality was on full display during Backroad and FU-150, the latter a fan-favourite kiss-off that had a growing crowd yelling the chorus back with a mix of glee and catharsis. Adell might channel country clichés — pickup trucks, whiskey, heartbreak — but she does it with tongue firmly in cheek and a wink to the audience. She’s in on the joke, and so are we.
Midway through, Adell debuted two new songs that hint at an evolving sonic palette. Snakeskin simmered with sultry, Lana-meets-Kacey energy, showcasing a more introspective edge, while Giddy Up Gorgeous turned the tempo back up with a glossy, yeehaw-pop bop tailor-made for a summer night. Both tracks landed well, suggesting that her next project may push beyond viral hits into something more substantial.
Her band — tight and well-balanced — gave room for the 29-year-old’s vocals to shine, especially on the shimmering Strawberry Crush, a woozy, romantic slow-burn that floated across the park like a warm breeze. But it was Whiskey Blues that proved a standout: smoky, soulful, and subtly defiant, it showed a depth that sets her apart from the country-pop pack.
Adell closed with Buckle Bunny, her breakthrough track and a bold reclamation of a term often used to diminish women in the country scene. It was cheeky, confident, and deeply empowering — a reminder that Tanner Adell isn’t just here to entertain; she’s here to shake things up.
Minutes after she left the stage, a torrential storm swept across Hyde Park, sending poncho-clad punters fleeing for cover. But by then, Adell had already delivered the sunshine. Her set may have been mid-afternoon, but it shone like a headliner — and if today’s performance is any sign, it won’t be long before she’s topping festival bills herself.
Live review & photography of Tanner Adell @ BST Hyde Park 2025, London by Kalpesh Patel on 6th July 2025.
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