With a strong reputation for being an engaging, energetic, and effervescent individual, can Russell Dickerson really live up to every syllable of the hype that surrounds him?
It’s true, he gave us everything promised and more at Kentish Town’s O2 Forum on Friday, 30th August, but let’s pull up those horses for one short moment, shall we?
There is much more to this country boy’s story. You see, a Russell Dickerson show will always be a RUSSELL DICKERSON show (if you know what we mean). But if you are a fan, you already know that the RD party is first and foremost about the man. As fortune would have it, we were lucky enough to bounce up the Forum stairs for a pre-show hangout and take a peek behind the curtain. (The last time we were up there was with The Buzzcocks, but that’s another story and we were very, very drunk.)
Before we marched up those steps into memories of a debauched rock and roll past, we thought it only right and proper to see what some of the very patient fans, some of whom had been queuing all day, had to say.
If you’ve had a bad day, he’ll make it all right..."
Kelly and Thomas spoke warmly about Russell’s friendly and accessible style. ‘We come for his personality,’ says Thomas, citing ‘Every Little Thing’ and ‘Forever For a Little While’ as their personal favourites. Superfans Henry and Faith travelled from London to Bristol and back again so they could see him on consecutive nights. Having discovered Dickerson in 2022 at The Electric Ballroom, they tell us of his ‘charisma, energy, so much life! If you’ve had a bad day, he’ll make it all right…’ Tanita and Kat were even luckier, finding him at the pub a little earlier, presumably lubricating those superbly constructed vocal cords. They tell us they also saw him at C2C and ‘loved it! We were straight in here when we found out about the gig. His shows are always amazing (and he’s incredibly hot)!’ Tanita, with ‘Swifty-style’ bracelets on, set the tone for what was going to be one of those sparkly nights when she gave us one, the song ‘MGNO’ spelled out.
The dressing room is on the top floor these days—a little extra work for our old bones, but we made it, and boom, there he is—a unit of a man. Russell is prone to bursts of excitement and wonder, the kind we see often on stage, and why shouldn’t he be? The man has had a pretty rapid climb to his current status, storming the country charts and touring the world. I guess he is entitled to as many whoops, hollers, and hell yeahs as he wants!
But there is another side to Russell: he is chatty, gentle, open, genuinely pleased to meet us, and charming to boot. He tells us about growing up learning the drums at first, before teaching himself the guitar 
in his teens. Unable to stop the flow of creativity, writing lyrics and music was a natural progression by the age of 19 or 20, and there is heartfelt gratitude and wonder at his growing success since then. He proudly talks about his two little sons and his wife, and we can feel that he truly lives the themes prevalent in his repertoire, such as family, togetherness, and belonging. Russell is excited to share that before he heads to the next part of his 2024 tour in Vancouver, he’s taking the family on a Disney vacation.
So, in answer to the initial question, yes, he certainly lives up to the hype—and probably then some—and we still have the show to look forward to!
As we made our way back down the steps, Blake Redferrin was warming up the already friendly, open audience with his strong, powerful, and true voice ringing out with fervour and conviction. This performance echoed his innovative style, and we were treated to a fusion of traditional country elements with modern influences, including pop and hip-hop, creating a unique sound that the audience clearly connected with. His vulnerable lyrics, combined with catchy melodies, pop-infused hooks, and electronic beats, linked relatable themes with a storytelling thread that ran emphatically through his set. Redferrin kept it toe-tappingly country. ‘Jack and Diet Coke,’ his recently viral single, finished this exciting, energy-fuelled, gutsy performance. Oh, and the ladies were screaming for him too.
The summer may have been waning, but there was nothing but warmth, excitement, and joy in London tonight. Following on from Blake Redferrin, Russell Dickerson and his ridiculously talented band of merry men were set to deliver a stellar evening of fabulous, modern country music. With an explosion of energy, Dickerson and the band ran out on stage, everywhere all at once—and suddenly, the Forum was full to bursting as everyone hurriedly came back from the bar after enjoying Redferrin’s set.
His band clearly loves being on stage as much as he does"
From the moment Russell Dickerson steps on stage, you can tell he’s fully committed to delivering an unforgettable experience. His passion for singing, playing, performing, and connecting with the audience flows as effortlessly as Redferrin’s bourbon. With the crowd’s energy, there’s a palpable throb of love and unity; it’s almost a religious experience watching him light up Kentish Town. His fans are more than ready for this—his encouragement and recognition of their enthusiastic participation only fuel their already fierce devotion. There’s dancing, singing, and hollering as they revel in the chance to be part of this buzz, this tribe, this ultimate RD party.
everyone loves everything - That’s the Russell Dickerson way."
Perhaps Dickerson’s ultimate formula for his well-deserved and growing success is a golden trio: varied, catchy, and instantly memorable songs; a rich, powerful, and sonorous voice that perfectly nails the vocal runs and emotional highs of each track—and yes, as one fan we spoke to before the show said, ‘He’s hot!’ Or maybe it’s his ability to maintain vocal control amidst an intensely physical performance—or even the perfectly balanced set of up-tempo songs that the crowd loves to join in with, seamlessly combined with slower ballads. ‘Yours,’ ‘Blue Tacoma,’ and ‘Every Little Thing‘ are clear favourites, but to be honest—everyone loves everything. That’s the Russell Dickerson way. His band clearly loves being on stage as much as he does, and their effortless mastery combined with the pure joy of performing is as much a part of the magic as anything else.
Russell’s performance tonight illustrated Russell the man"
London, it’s good to be back! There’s no better way to finish our tour than here—and I wanna say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Russell’s performance tonight illustrated Russell the man—love, life, gratitude, and every good feeling. Mid-performance, he tells us, “London, it’s good to be back! There’s no better way to finish our tour than here—and I wanna say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
RUSSELL DICKERSON played O2 Forum, London on Fri 30th August 2024
Support from Blake Redferrin
