Shipshewana, IN (Feb. 21, 2025) – Country music artist Chris Young, starts 2025 off with a new beginning and some new sounds as he goes acoustic at the Blue Gate Performing Arts Center.
At the start of December of 2024, Chris Young left his former label RCA Nashville and signed on with Black River Entertainment. He also started recording for a new album to be released later in 2025. In the meantime, Young has loaded up the bus and gone acoustic to finish out the year and begin this one. This is the second weekend out this year, and still a bit nervous about the acoustic shows and how his fans will react to the show change up.
Before taking the stage here in Shipshewana, IN, on this Friday night, 26-year-old Christian Hayes approaches the crowd at center stage. With just an acoustic guitar in hand, Hayes performs a short five song set of original songs he wrote back in his Rome, GA home.
Hayes started playing guitar and learning to write songs at age 8. Since that time, he has mastered his craft so that on nights when he is playing in front of crowds like at the Blue Gate PAC, he receives a standing ovation and crowd approval with songs like “Sailer’s Cards.” The song is a testament of life as a Navy sailor, as learned first-hand by Hayes who served his Country after signing up when he was 18. He finished his set with another sentimental hit, “Home Sweet Home.”
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Christian Hayes setlist:
- Autumn In Her Eyes 2. Father Time 3. 26 4. Sailer’s Cards 5. Home Sweet Home
With a near capacity crowd in front of him, cheering and applauding for him to take the stage, Young obliges and sits down on a stool at center stage holding his acoustic guitar. With a big grin on his face, he welcomes the crowd and thanks them for coming.
With a career like Young’s, (multi-platinum entertainer, Grand Ole Opry member, among Billboards Top Country Artists Of The Decade, nine studio albums, 14 #1 singles and numerous AMA, CMA and Grammy nominations) there is no introductions needed.
With Young on stage this evening, he is joined by Kevin Collier on guitar and Seth Costner on piano. The three perform songs while Chris gives a bit of a story behind each writing. A few jokes and much fan interaction throughout the evening makes the show, intimate and one to remember.
Starting the show off with two #1 singles “Gettin’ You Home” and “The Man I Want To Be,” Chris introduces his guitar player, Kevin. As a member of the band for 19 years, he has become the band leader and Young’s best friend. Also, when someone in the crowd yells out “Freebird,” Collier will go on his own guitar riff showing off his guitar skills.
After his 2013 hit “Aw Naw,” Young jokes more with Collier about getting old, stating that “although we are getting old, you can’t quit as you just had another baby.” Knowing Kevin as long as he has, Chris has known his piano player Seth, even longer. Young and Costner went to college together and met in piano class. At the end of the introduction, Costner belts out the chorus of the Prince cover, “Don’t Have To Be Beautiful” in his high tenor voice.
During “I Can Take It From There,” Young stops the song to make sure everyone in the crowd knows who Conway Twitty is. He even drops down to his low bass and sings the chorus of Twitty’s “I’d Love To Lay You Down.”
While Young continues his show with more of his hit songs, “Young Love & Saturday Nights,” “Drowning,” “I’m Coming Over” and “Drinking Me Lonely,” he also surprises the audience with two new love songs. The two songs, “Til The Last One Dies” and “I Didn’t Come Here To Leave” are being played at a few shows to get the crowd response as to which one will be added to the new album coming out later this year.
Singing “Happy Birthday” to Briella in the crowd, Young jokes and asks “why are you here on your Birthday? I am honored you are, but there are better places to go than to spend your day with me. Thank you for coming.”
Chris ends the show singing about all his “Famous Friends” before standing down at the front of the stage beginning to sign autographs and take selfies with the crowd. As the crowd lights begin to come up, Young asks for the lights to darken as he is going to sing one more. He concludes the evening with an encore of “Tomorrow” before returning to the front of the stage to meet all his fans that congregate down in front.
Encouraged by the crowd to do more acoustic shows like this evening’s, he is also nervous and hoping that the next evening’s crowd is half as energized as the one here at the Blue Gate. The acoustic shows offer a whole new perspective to the artist and the songs they perform, with the intimate, fan interaction enjoyed by fans and artists alike.
Be sure to click on the links below to follow in new announcements or schedules to other shows. Whether it be an acoustic or a full band arena show, it is guaranteed to be a good time either way Chris take the stage.
Chris Young setlist:
- Getting You Home (The Black Dress Song). 2. The Man I Want To Be. 3. Aw Naw. 4. Don’t Have To Be Beautiful (Prince cover performed by Seth Costner). 5. I Can Take It From Here / I’d Love To Lay You Down (Conway Twitty cover). 6. Center Of My World 7. Til The Last One Dies 8. Young Love & Saturday Nights 9. You / Neon Moon (Brooks and Dunn cover) 10. Drowning. 11. I Didn’t Come Here To Leave. 12. I’m Coming Over. 13. Drinking Me Lonely. 14. Who I Am With You 15. Famous Friends Encore: 16. Tomorrow
Chris Young
Christian Hayes
Blue Gate Performing Arts Center
