Ottawa got loud, lit, and a little bit wild as Keith Urban’s High and Alive Tour roared into town — and it was anything but a quiet goodbye to summer. With the season’s final heatwave still hanging in the air, Karley Scott Collins, Alana Springsteen, and Chase Matthew kicked things off with powerhouse performances that had boots stomping and hearts thumping. By the time Urban hit the stage, the crowd was already buzzing — and he took it to the stratosphere. If this was the end of a Long Hot Summer, it went out in flames.
20 Minutes, 100% Impact: Karley Scott Collins Makes Her Mark in Ottawa
Newcomer Karley Scott Collins kicked off the night with just 20 minutes to win over a nearly sold-out crowd — and she didn’t waste a second. She opened with “Bad, Bad,” a fiery track from her upcoming debut album Flight Risk, dropping this Friday. From there, she rolled through four of her standout singles, including her latest (and my personal favorite), “Denim,” along with the powerful “Quit You” and the gritty, fan-favorite “Cowboy Sh!t.”
No doubt about it — Karley Scott Collins made her mark in Ottawa. Can’t wait to see where this rising star goes next. If you were there and enjoyed her set show her your support by pre-saving Flight Risk here!
Country’s Next Queen? Alana Springsteen Lights Up the Arena with Emotion and Power
Alana Springsteen made her Ottawa debut with a fiery 30-minute set — just 10 minutes longer than Karley Scott Collins, but she made every second count. Country music thrives on storytelling, especially when it comes to matters of the heart, and Springsteen knows how to tap into that emotional core.
She launched her set with the bold “you don’t deserve a country song,” co-written with Mitchell Tenpenny. I’m not sure who inspired that track, but the title alone earns a spot alongside Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” — the kind of song you hope wasn’t written about you. It set the tone, and Springsteen kept raising the bar from there.
Midway through, she lit up the arena — literally — as fans waved their cell phone flashlights during the unreleased “Same God.” Then she flexed her vocal chops with a powerhouse cover of Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats.” She closed out with fan favorites “Cowboys and Tequila” and “Goodbye Looks Good on You,” leaving the crowd buzzing.
If a few more heartbreaks come her way, we might just be watching the rise of country’s next Taylor Swift. With nearly 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Alana Springsteen is clearly striking a chord — and she’s only getting started.
Guitars, Grit, and Dreams: Chase Matthew Brings the Edge to Keith Urban’s Tour
Chase Matthew didn’t just take the stage — he owned it. With each act raising the bar, Matthew came in hot and took things to a whole new level.
But first, shoutout to the tour crew: three opening acts, just 10 minutes between each set, and they nailed it every time — even getting Keith Urban on stage five minutes early. That’s no small feat.
Now back to Chase. His 30-minute set kicked off with an unofficial intro: his own “Don’t Leave – Jolene Remix,” a fiery response to Dolly Parton’s classic. Then the lights came up, and it was full throttle — guitars screaming, tires squealing, engines roaring — straight into “Drives My Truck.” With a lyric like “my baby drives me crazy when she drives my truck,” you’d expect a typical country take. But nope — this was the good kind of crazy, and the whole set followed suit.
Matthew didn’t let up for a second. He was tossing ball caps, t-shirts, and anything else he could get his hands on into the crowd, keeping the energy sky-high. Ottawa responded in kind — loud, wild, and loving every minute.
He brought a gritty edge to the stage, a refreshing break from the polished pop-country sound dominating the charts. That edge was on full display when he mashed up “Back In Black,” “Give It Away,” and “You Shook Me All Night Long,” sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Before wrapping up, he shared a moment of inspiration: “It’s never too late to chase your dream. If you’d told me a few years ago I’d be opening for Keith Urban, I’d have said you were crazy. Dreams can come true — never stop chasing them.”
He closed out with three of his biggest hits: “Country Line,” “Darlin,” and “Love You Again.” Chase Matthew made a serious impression in Ottawa — and something tells me he’ll be back. The only question is when.
From First Chord to Final Encore: Keith Urban’s Ottawa Set Was Pure Electricity
Between Chase Matthew and Urban’s set, a massive sheet — think giant-sized bed linen — was draped across the front of the stage. As the house lights dimmed, a spotlight lit up behind it, casting Urban’s silhouette in dramatic fashion. Okay, it wasn’t actually a bed sheet, but you get the visual — and that’s the point.
If you didn’t already know, Keith Urban is considered one of the greatest country guitarists of all time, often ranked alongside legends like Brad Paisley (who’s coming to Canadian Tire Centre in December) and Vince Gill. And if you weren’t familiar before the Ottawa show, you definitely are now. Most concerts feature a guitar solo or two — Urban had one after almost every single song. Not a complaint, though. The man absolutely shreds.
From the moment he opened with “Straight Line,” you could feel a special connection between Urban and the Ottawa crowd. “Hello Ottawa, it’s been a long time — I’m glad to be back!” he said, nearly seven years to the day since his last visit. Sure, maybe he says that at every stop, but this time it felt real. He promised, “For the next two hours, I’m going to make you forget about everything outside this arena — and we’re going to party.” And that’s exactly what he delivered.
No flashy pyro — though I do love a good indoor explosion — but the stage setup was stunning. Thoughtful lighting, a giant disco ball, and just the right amount of mood to elevate the experience.
There were plenty of high points, but one of the biggest didn’t come from Urban himself. During “Fighter,” his duet with Carrie Underwood, mandolinist/fiddler/banjo player/backing vocalist Natalie Stovall stepped up to take Carrie’s part — and crushed it. Artists often have openers fill in for duet partners on tour, but this was something else. Stovall didn’t just nail it — she may have outshone Underwood. Her performance was a showstopper and a personal highlight.
The rest of the night was packed with hits and mashups: “Days Go By” blended with “I Had Some Help,” “Kiss a Girl” with “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me,” and “Folsom Prison Blues” with “Wasted Time.” Urban even made his way through the crowd to a tiny B-stage at the back of the arena, shaking hands and snapping selfies with fans. There, he performed “Pink Pony Club” and a fiery rendition of “You’ll Think of Me.”
Back on the main stage, he closed out the set with “Blue Ain’t My Colour,” written by Ontario’s own Steven Lee Olsen.
For the encore, Urban gave us three final songs: the emotional “Stupid Boy,” a surprise cover of the New Radicals’ “You Get What You Give,” and the crowd-pleasing “You Look Good in My Shirt.”
Keith Urban has said it many times — he’s an artist best seen live — and last night was proof. Sure, you can stream his music anywhere, but there’s something electric in the air when he’s on stage.
Sadly, this was the final stop on the Canadian leg of his High and Alive World Tour. If you’re hoping to catch him again on home turf, you’ll have to wait a little longer.
From start to finish, the High and Alive Tour stop in Ottawa was a masterclass in country music energy, heart, and showmanship. Karley Scott Collins kicked things off with grit and grace, proving that 20 minutes is more than enough to leave a lasting impression. Alana Springsteen followed with a set full of emotional storytelling and powerhouse vocals, lighting up the arena and hearts alike. Chase Matthew brought the edge, the adrenaline, and the attitude — turning his 30 minutes into a full-throttle party. And then came Keith Urban, reminding everyone why he’s one of the genre’s most electrifying live performers. With jaw-dropping guitar solos, heartfelt moments, and a crowd that matched his energy beat for beat, Urban closed out the Canadian leg of the tour in unforgettable fashion. If this was the end of a Long Hot Summer, it went out in flames — and fans will be chasing that high until he comes back around.
