Live Review: Darius Rucker – 5th October 2025 – The O2 Arena, London
4 min read
Three-time GRAMMY Award winner Darius Rucker made a welcome return to London’s O2 Arena this weekend as part of his biggest UK tour yet, following the release of his latest album Carolyn’s Boy and memoir Life’s Too Short. The tour, which kicked off in Belfast and included stops in Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester, wrapped up in London with a solid crowd, a noticeable step up from his last visit to the capital at the Eventim Apollo.
Arriving just before 8.30pm, fans were still filing back into the arena after warm-up sets from The Shires and Jake Owen, who set the mood just right. The atmosphere felt friendly and familiar, especially for country music fans, and with my flannel jacket, beard and trucker cap, I was pretty much the perfect country stereotype without even trying.
Though some of the upper seating sections of the O2 were closed, the crowd was still strong and lively. When Rucker finally took the stage, dressed casually in a red T-shirt, tight jeans, and one of his own merchandise caps, he was greeted with a warm cheer. His laid-back vibe and signature closed-knee “dad dance” got several smiles and laughs from the crowd throughout the night.
The stage setup was simple but effective – wooden beams, rustic fencing, chandeliers and plenty of dry ice created the perfect country vibe. But it was the band’s tight playing and Rucker’s vocals that really made the night. His voice sounded great, still perfectly suited not only to the country direction he’s taken over the past 18 years but also to the pop-rock roots of his days fronting Hootie & the Blowfish, whose influence was clear throughout the set.
He kicked things off with Forever Road, beautifully supported by a violin, before moving into the upbeat For the First Time, featuring some impressive country guitar picking from his bandmate. Rucker kept things personal and engaging, sharing stories like his shout-out to Lady Gaga’s O2 show the night before. When introducing Better Place, he joked it was “a song about therapy, because therapy is awesome,” which got the audience laughing before he delivered the heartfelt track written during his London stay. He also reflected on his breakthrough country hit Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It, reminding the crowd how nearly everyone doubted he’d make it in country music.
While his newer material landed well, it was the Hootie classics that stirred the most nostalgia. Only Wanna Be With You and Let Her Cry brought back memories, though their country-flavored arrangements sometimes softened the punch of the originals. By the time Hold My Hand came around, I couldn’t help but feel a bit torn as lap steel guitarist Sasha Ostrovsky stepped forward to give the song a distinctly country twist. It was a solid performance but maybe not quite what die-hard Hootie fans were hoping for.
The set took an interesting detour when Glen Tilbrook of Squeeze joined for Black Coffee In Bed and Tempted. Rucker called it “a dream come true,” but he mostly stepped back vocally, leaving Tilbrook to take the lead. It was a charming moment, if a bit off the country path, and gave fans a chance for a well-timed bar or bathroom break.
Energy bounced back quickly with upbeat tracks like Homegrown Honey, Southern State of Mind and Radio, the last featuring some standout banjo work. The band stayed tight all night, elevating even the more familiar songs.
The encore opened with the debut of Love Letter to America, a heartfelt, politically charged ballad. Then came a surprise cover of Blackstreet’s No Diggity, an unexpected but crowd-pleasing choice that worked thanks to Rucker’s charisma and willingness to take risks. The night wrapped up with everyone singing along to Wagon Wheel and a moving, powerful cover of Prince’s Purple Rain.
Overall, Rucker’s O2 show was a confident, sincere mix of where he’s come from and where he’s headed. His country reinvention is well established, but there’s still that undeniable link to his rock roots, which makes him stand out in today’s music scene. Not every moment hit perfectly, and some fans might debate the country-tinged Hootie songs, but the night was full of genuine moments, strong musicianship, and plenty of reasons to celebrate his return to one of the UK’s biggest stages.
Setlist:
Forever Road
For the First Time
This
It Won’t Be Like This for Long
Only Wanna Be With You (Hootie & the Blowfish song)
Beers and Sunshine
Better Place
Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It
If I Told You
Homegrown Honey
Black Coffee in Bed (Squeeze cover) (with Glenn Tilbrook)
Tempted (Squeeze cover) (with Glenn Tilbrook)
Southern State of Mind
Let Her Cry (Hootie & the Blowfish song)
Radio
Hold My Hand (Hootie & the Blowfish song)
Come Back Song
Alright
Encore:
Love Letter To America
No Diggity (Blackstreet cover)
Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show cover)
Purple Rain (Prince cover)
::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.
