The cast of Nashville paid tribute to ‘the very special people who stepped up at the right moment’ after the Manchester terror attack as they put on a powerful and poignant performance at their relocated show.
The stars of the hit country music TV series were forced to cancel their scheduled date at Manchester Arena, which remains closed following the suicide bombing that killed 22 people at Ariana Grande’s concert on May 22.
But they were determined not to abandon the city on their UK tour, moving the show to the O2 Apollo over two performances. And the tragic events that led them there were never far from their minds throughout the emotional evening show.
Charles Esten (Deacon Claybourne), Clare Bowen (Scarlett O’Connor) and Chris Carmack (Will Lexington) were all back after their Bridgewater Hall debut almost a year to the day ago, while Jonathan Jackson (Avery Barkley) replaced Sam Palladio (Gunnar Scott) this time around.
The cast - all talented musicians and singers with their own projects outside the show - performed a jukebox of fan favourites from the series along with their own original songs and some carefully chosen covers.
Jackson’s powerful performance of U2’s gospel-folk song Love Rescue Me prompted the first of many standing ovations, showcasing an impressive vocal range rarely seen on screen in his character’s role as a guitarist and producer.
Bowen, a glittery vision in her ethereal, Midsummer Night’s Dream-style get-up and feathered hair, dedicated her tender new single Little By Little to all those affected by the recent tragedies in Manchester and London.
“It’s a love letter to the world. I think the world needs a bit more of that right now,” she said.
“We’re in awe of the way you’ve responded with love and compassion and strength and bravery. We stand with you and we love you.”
Esten, who plays her on-screen uncle, also treated the crowd to an exclusive preview of Sanctuary, a song from the show that has yet to be aired in the UK.
“There’s no other city I’m going to perform this for,” he said - and its touching lyrics (‘I will share this weight you carry’) struck just the right chord with a crowd still heartbroken by last month's events.
There were plenty of upbeat moments to lift spirits too, right from Carmack’s opening number, the ‘old school Will Lexington’ single What If I Was Willing, to Jackson’s cover of Echo and the Bunnymen’s The Killing Moon.
An energetic performance of Hand to Hold gave the audience just that as an ebullient Esten ran up and down the aisles high-fiving fans, while Carmack displayed some slick blues guitar skills on a cover of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Texas Flood.
All four stars later united on stage to give David Bowie classic Heroes the country treatment, dedicating it to ‘the very special people who stepped up at the right moment’, before closing the show with A Life That’s Good - a timely reminder to appreciate life’s simple blessings.
“It’s become the heart of our show and it’s a prayer we send out to you,” said Bowen.
Nashville season five continues on Sky Living on Saturday at 9pm.
- Nashville in Concert tour producers Opry Entertainment donated £10,000 to the British Red Cross UK Solidarity Fund on behalf of stars Clare Bowen, Charles Esten, Chris Carmack and Jonathan Jackson. Money from the fund will go to help victims of the recent terror attacks in Manchester and London.
