Dierks Bentley (photo from tasteofcountry.com)
Dierks Bentley is at it again.
He’s touring again and played back-to-back nights at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre for the fifth time. And he continues to surprise his fans.
The four-time CMA nominee opened with his bluegrass-style “Up On The Ridge,” and moved smoothly between his hits “What Was I Thinkin,’” “Drunk On A Plane,” and “Somewhere On A Beach.” He also brought the atmosphere down to seriousness a bit by performing “Riser,” “I Hold On,” and “Different For Girls.”
And then he made an announcement.
“We’re all trying to hold it together here,” Bentley told the crowd. “This is my fifth time playing Red Rocks, but it gets more crazy and crazy every time. It’s not every night you get to play here, so I texted a friend to see if she could be part of tonight. She’s got one of the best voices in Country music and came all the way from Boston to be here tonight…Maren Morris y’all!”
And, right on cue, Morris showed up, making the night even more amazing for Bentley fans.
Dierks Bentley and Maren Morris (photo from www.countrymusictattletale.com)
The two of them performed a duet, “I’ll Be The Moon,” from Bentley’s critically-acclaimed No. 1 album “Black.” They also sang — with some sweet harmonies — Morris’ “My Church.” Soon, Randy Houser jumped in and they sang “Bad Angel.”
Good thing the place was packed. And they got their money’s worth, insisting an encore and breaking curfew.
“I’ve been waiting so long for this show and trying to think of ways to surprise you,” Bentley said from stage. “I’ve told you about my friends and family who are here tonight, but I’m here for you, fans.”
Bentley is known for many things, including his Prius and bringing his daughter on stage. But he’s probably best known for “traveling his own path…Country music’s most relatable star,” as Esquire puts it. As he did this night, Bentley usually provides a “foot-stomping, fist-pumping good time,” says Arizona Republic.
He recently talked with Billboard about the title track from his album as well as his personal life.
“I really think when I wrote Black, and our [10th wedding] anniversary came and went because we really didn’t have a chance to do much about it because there was so much going on, I started to think about how our society is so focused on youth and hook-ups, and young love stuff,” Bentley says. “The people I always loved listening to had a little bit of dirt under their fingernails because they had done some living and had these stories to talk about.I was able to explore some new themes on this record. I’m the same guy I was, but there has been a shift over the past ten years. I feel like what I am writing now is a lot more nourishing than what I was writing back then.”
“I was able to explore some new themes on this record. I’m the same guy I was, but there has been a shift over the past ten years. I feel like what I am writing now is a lot more nourishing than what I was writing back then.”
