Life Upside Down Tour – Morgan Evans & James Johnston.
Morgan Evans and James Johnston from the first show of the Life Upside Down tour at The Fortitude Music Hall Brisbane 31.08.2023
Photos and review by Michelle Cop / POPrepublic.tv
A good size crowd had lined up to get their spot for what was going to be a fun night out. They’d been there for hours hoping that when the doors opened, they would grab themselves a great viewpoint.
This was the first show of Morgan Evans’s “Life Upside Down” Tour. The energy for the start of any tour is always exciting for both the fans and the artist. When you go to see the Main Act, you never know what kind of support artist you’ll see – it can be a kind of lucky dip. With Morgan Evans already heavily influenced by Country music, this was going to be one amazing performance.
Twenty years ago, Morgan took a young 12-year-old under his wing. Tonight, this now 32-year-old got to hit the big stage with someone he has looked up to over these years.
In 2009, James Johnston, an Aussie Country singer, was placed third in the 7th Season of “Australian Idol” – and made the Top 24 of the 6th Season of “The X Factor”.
This night though, James got to put his talent on the line, playing tracks from his upcoming Album “Raised Like That” which is due out on the 29th September.
No one was more astounded than James that his popularity had become huge with the audience singing with him.
The moment James’ brown cowboy boots strutted the stage, the crowds’ energy hit new levels. Letting fans know it was a very long time (10 years) and very short distance playing in the pub just metres across the road from the Music Hall. He’d been living in Brisbane for 15 years during that time.
Smart move by James after he finished his set, he did a Meet & Greet with fans at the Merch table and was still pressing the flesh with admirers all the way through into the third song of Morgan.
This fella, James Johnston, is certainly ready for the big time.
Morgan Evans is an Australian country music singer and songwriter. He released a self-titled debut studio album in March 2014 and simply hasn’t looked back.
After a short break, the lights sprayed out over the audience and returned to the stage, dimmed, and the man himself, Morgan, occupied the top spot in front of the mike. Opening with his 2019 hit “Young Again”, paused – then asking the Brisbane audience where’s his country girls at? before breaking out with “Country Outta My Girl” and “Kiss Somebody”, and playing tracks from latest “Life Upside Down” album.
Later in the night, like a dream come true, James Johnston joined Morgan on stage for a sing-along.
It seems as though Thursdays have become the new Fridays as the fans turned up in force and enjoyed a drink or two and some great music. It had an authentic Tamworth Concert feel about it with fans dressing just right for the night.
Keep up to date with Morgan Evans: www.morganevansmusic.com
Keep up to date with James Johnston: www.jamesjohnston.com
