A Different Night Same Rodeo with Bailey Zimmerman in Sydney

This article is all about my Bailey Zimmerman review, seeing his show at Hordern Pavilion, Sydney on 16 October 2026.

After listening to Bailey Zimmerman for a few years, I finally got to see him live in Sydney, and I can confirm that the man has A LOT of energy.

Bailey Zimmerman brought his Different Night Same Rodeo Tour to Hordern Pavilion on Friday 16 October, giving Australian fans another chance to catch him while he was in the country for Strummingbird Festival.

I’d originally been planning to see Bailey at Strummingbird, but Steff had a work conflict the day afterwards, and we were trying to plan how to get back to Sydney by 8am on Sunday morning from Newcastle, so when Post Malone cancelled as the headline, refunds were offered and we took them.

Thankfully, Bailey added an extra show in Sydney, alongside another in Melbourne, meaning I could finally tick seeing one of my favourite country artists live off my list.

I’ve had Bailey Zimmerman’s music on my country playlists for a few years now, having discovered him through Spotify, and I’ve always wanted to see him perform.

With songs like Rock and a Hard Place, Holy Smokes and Religiously in his catalogue, I was excited to see how his music translated to the stage. I’d also heard that he was incredibly energetic live, constantly running around and keeping the crowd on their toes.

He certainly didn’t disappoint.

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The Venue: Hordern Pavilion

We arrived at Hordern Pavilion around 7.45pm, with doors having opened at 7pm. It was already busy outside, with plenty of people grabbing food and drinks before heading inside.

The merchandise queue was particularly long, so I didn’t bother having a proper look, but there was clearly plenty of excitement surrounding the show.

As you’d expect at an Australian country concert, there were cowboy hats and boots, trucker hats and plenty of Ringers Western and Ariat clothing everywhere you looked.

It was a familiar Sydney country crowd, with everyone getting ready for a Friday night of live music.

We grabbed drinks before heading into the venue, where there was a short queue to get inside. The room was close to capacity, and by the time we settled into our spot on the standing floor, the atmosphere was already buzzing.

We managed to get around six or seven rows back from the front, which gave us a great view of the stage. The crowd was a real mix of ages, from young children to older fans, couples, groups of friends and parents out with their kids.

Support Act: Dexter and the Moonrocks

Dexter and the Moonrocks took to the stage at 8pm for a 30-minute set. They were completely new to me, and I’ll admit that I wasn’t quite expecting their sound.

Rather than country, their music leans much more towards alternative rock, with an emo edge that reminded me of bands like Blink-182 and Paramore. It was a slightly unexpected pairing for a Bailey Zimmerman concert, although they were also playing Strummingbird Festival, which made a little more sense of the booking.

They had a full band, and the drummer was absolutely going for it. At one point, he even took his top off, which felt very much in keeping with the energy of their performance. The vocals were good, and although only a handful of people around me seemed to know the band, there were definitely some dedicated fans in the room.

One guy standing in front of me was wearing a Dexter and the Moonrocks T-shirt and clearly knew every single word. He was having the absolute time of his life, singing along to the entire set before happily heading towards the back of Hordern for Bailey’s performance.

I was having a great time just watching him enjoy the show. I had a moment (as I often do at live music gigs) and reflected on how music is such an incredible thing that we have. This guy was rocking out, clearly having the best time seeing one of his favourite acts perform and I could instantly relate, because I know that feeling and I’ve had that feeling many times before.

There’s nothing quite like the euphoria and pure enjoyment of seeing an artist you’ve been listening to, right there in the flesh, and it was pretty special to see that happening for someone else.

Music is just great isn’t it?!

Ok, back to the review. Dexter and the Moonrocks also performed their collaboration with Avery Anna, which was a highlight for me as a huge Avery fan and my ears perked up instantly.

While Dexter and the Moonrocks probably wouldn’t be a band I’d go out of my way to see again, they put on a good show and brought plenty of energy to the stage. It was a slightly random support pairing, but I enjoyed seeing a different style of music before Bailey Zimmerman came on.

Bailey Zimmerman Takes the Stage

Bailey Zimmerman came on at around 9.15pm, opening with Backup Plan, his collaboration with Luke Combs. The lights went down before he ran onto the stage, and the crowd immediately erupted.

It was exactly the kind of entrance you’d expect from someone known for his energy, and it set the tone for the rest of the night.

The stage production was what I’d expected, with a huge lighting setup behind him, a central screen displaying graphics and visuals, and a small runway extending out from the front of the stage.

The lighting structure also doubled as a second performance area for Chevy Silverado, giving that song its own moment during the show. There was a full live band behind Bailey, with two long-haired guitarists who looked as though they could have been twins.

Bailey himself was almost constantly moving. He bounced around the stage, ran from one side to the other and made full use of the runway, rarely staying still for long enough to catch his breath. I’d heard that he was energetic live, but seeing it in person was something else.

His vocals were also excellent. He sounded just like his recordings, with that distinctive voice that makes him stand out in the current country music scene. He played electric guitar during several songs, too, while the band kept the energy high throughout.

There was one brief sound issue during All the Way, his collaboration with BigXthaPlug. The bass was far too loud, which made Bailey’s vocals sound as though they were breaking up through the microphone. Thankfully, it was sorted quickly, and the sound was otherwise great for the rest of the night.

For the most part, I could hear his vocals clearly, and the production suited his rock-country sound perfectly. There were also some great visuals on the screen during his collaborations, including the music video footage for All the Way and Lost, his song with The Kid LAROI.

An Energetic Performer

One thing that stood out to me throughout the concert was just how genuinely amazed Bailey Zimmerman seemed to be performing in Sydney.

He spoke several times about his bewilderment at having fans all the way over here in Australia and being able to play shows like this. There was a real sense that he didn’t take the experience for granted, and I found that quite endearing.

He also spent a good amount of time talking to the crowd between songs. Some of his speeches were about believing in yourself, chasing your dreams and going after what you want in life. He spoke about his own background, growing up in a small town, moving to Nashville and how he hadn’t sung in public or played guitar before 2020.

I actually really enjoyed this side of the show. I hadn’t necessarily expected the motivational speeches, but they added something beyond the music and gave the audience a little more insight into the person behind the songs.

Bailey also has a catchphrase, “I love you, say it back”, which he used several times throughout the night. He’d shout it out, and the crowd would respond with an enthusiastic “I love you!” It was a fun little call-and-response moment that had everyone involved.

He seemed genuinely grateful for the Australian crowds, and that feeling carried through the entire performance.

The Sydney Roosters Shirt Incident

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Sydney concert without something slightly chaotic happening.

At one point during the show, Bailey Zimmerman came back out wearing a Sydney Roosters shirt. The crowd promptly booed him, and he ended up taking it off and performing shirtless instead.

He seemed rather confused and I guess you would be, given the Sydney Roosters had just won the NRL Premiership and technically, the Hordern Pavilion is in Roosters territory. But it’s also highly unlikely that the country music crowd are coming in from the Eastern Suburbs and Bailey’s team probably didn’t know that there is more than just the Sydney Roosters when it comes to Sydney NRL teams.

Later in the show, Bailey returned wearing a white tank top. Once again, the crowd booed, and Bailey responded by ripping that off too.

So, for the remainder of the show, we got a shirtless Bailey Zimmerman.

Whether he knew exactly what reaction he was going to get or was simply having a laugh with the crowd, it was a funny moment and one of the most memorable bits of audience interaction from the night.

There were also plenty of calls for a shoey, as is practically obligatory at an Australian concert these days. Bailey didn’t appear to respond, although I’m not sure whether he was deliberately ignoring the requests or simply couldn’t hear them.

He did, however, stay on stage after the final song to sign things for fans in the front rows, which was a really nice touch. It was lovely to see him make that extra effort rather than simply disappearing backstage as soon as the show finished.

The Setlist and Standout Songs

Bailey Zimmerman played a mix of his biggest hits and older songs, giving fans plenty of opportunities to sing along throughout the night.

Opening with Backup Plan was a great choice for me personally, as it’s one of my favourite songs of his. I’d been particularly excited to hear it live, alongside Religiously, and I was glad both featured in the show.

The biggest crowd reaction of the night came during Holy Smokes, which was also my personal highlight. It’s one of those songs that hits differently when you’re hearing it live with a room full of people who know every word, and it was easily one of the moments I was happiest to have experienced in person.

Chevy Silverado was another standout, with the crowd singing along loudly. The second-stage setup and the visuals added something extra to the performance, and it was one of the biggest singalong moments of the evening.

I also really enjoyed Fix’n to Break. It felt more intimate than some of the bigger, louder songs, giving the set a slightly different feel while still showcasing Bailey’s vocals.

And then there was Fall in Love, another favourite of mine that I was pleased to hear live.

One of the biggest surprises was getting to hear his collaborations performed. I wasn’t sure whether he’d include them in the set, but hearing songs like All the Way and Lost was a fun addition. The visuals helped make those performances feel different from the rest of the set, too.

I did wonder whether he’d perform his cover of The Climb, but it didn’t make the setlist. That said, I didn’t leave feeling as though there were any major omissions. He played plenty of the songs I’d wanted to hear, and the set moved along at a good pace.

There weren’t any stripped-back acoustic moments or covers during the show, with Bailey sticking to his own catalogue. That suited the overall energy of the performance, which leaned much more towards rock-country than a traditional country set built around acoustic guitars and quieter storytelling.

The show finished with Rock and a Hard Place, which was a strong way to end the night. There wasn’t an especially obvious encore, with Bailey Zimmerman keeping the momentum going through to the finish before staying on stage to sign things for fans.

The Crowd and Atmosphere

The crowd was enthusiastic from start to finish, and I think being a Friday night definitely helped. People were dancing, jumping, singing along and generally making the most of the evening.

It wasn’t an especially rowdy crowd, but there was a good mixture of energy throughout the room. Some people were filming on their phones, while others were fully immersed in the performance, singing along to practically every song.

I always think a crowd can make such a difference to a concert, and this was one of those nights where the audience really added to the experience. Bailey Zimmerman’s songs are made for big singalongs, and hearing everyone join in during Holy Smokes and Chevy Silverado was brilliant.

Hordern Pavilion was a great venue for the show, too. I’ve always enjoyed seeing country artists there, and it worked particularly well for Bailey Zimmerman’s energetic, rock-influenced style. The stage production felt substantial without being over the top, and the standing floor meant the crowd could really get involved.

By the end of the night, the atmosphere was still buzzing, with people lingering around while Bailey Zimmerman signed things at the front. It was a nice way to wrap things up and gave the show a slightly more personal ending.

Final Bailey Zimmerman Review: Would I See Him Again?

Overall, I had a brilliant time seeing Bailey Zimmerman live for the first time.

I’ve been listening to his music for a few years, and he was always an artist I’d wanted to see in concert. I’m glad the extra Sydney date worked out, especially after my original Strummingbird plans fell through.

What stood out most was his energy. He barely stopped moving throughout the entire show, and his vocals sounded just as good live as they do on his recordings. His voice is also quite distinctive, which helps him stand out in a country music scene that continues to grow with new artists.

I enjoyed the motivational speeches more than I expected to, too. Hearing him talk about his journey from a small town to performing for fans around the world gave the show a more personal side, and he seemed genuinely amazed by the support he received in Australia.

I’m very glad I finally got to see another of my favourite country music artists live, and I’d absolutely travel to see him again. If you’re a fan of Bailey Zimmerman, or simply enjoy country music with a rock edge and plenty of energy, I’d definitely recommend catching him on tour.

Now, if he could just come back to Australia again soon, that would be great.

And now that concert season has well and truly started here in Australia, I’ve got a busy few weeks ahead with seeing Foo Fighters, Two Door Cinema Club, The Vaccines, Harry Styles and so much more! No country concerts for a while which is pretty unusual for me, but I bet there will be soon enough!

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