Jason AldeanTen years is a long time between visits, but for Jason Aldean, the idea of returning to Australia instantly brings back two very specific feelings. “A long flight. That's what I think of,” he laughs, before quickly adding that the payoff is absolutely worth it. “We were there 10 years ago, had an amazing time. I thought the fans were incredible. It kind of blew our minds that people halfway around the world knew our music and were singing our songs and wanted to see us play.”
For an artist who’s spent two decades at the top of country music, that kind of global connection still hits differently. “It was kind of wild and looking forward to getting back over there and playing some more shows. It's been longer than I wanted it to be since we've been back, so we're looking forward to it.”
If you’ve ever seen an Aussie crowd at a country show, you know they don’t hold back. Aldean definitely remembers that energy. One moment from his last visit in 2016 still stands out. “I remember playing at [CMC Rocks], I want to say maybe Brisbane,” he recalls. “I just remember not really knowing what we were getting into.”
What he found instead was a sea of fans who knew every word. “But I just remember being blown away at the amount of people that were out there that knew the songs, that knew our music and the fact that we had never been there, but they knew all of our stuff… that just kind of blew me away.” Being that far from home and still feeling that level of connection is exactly why he does it. “You just want to look out and see people having a good time… that's a really good feeling.”
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Since that visit, Aldean hasn’t exactly been taking it easy. In the past decade, he’s released six albums and lived a whole lot of life, but returning to Australia doesn’t come with nerves or pressure. “I don't think there's any pressure,” he says. “I feel like at this point, you know, we're not some shiny new penny. We've been around for 20 years. I feel like you know what you're going to get.”
For him, it’s less about proving anything and more about the buzz of bringing a live show to fans who haven’t seen it in person before. “You're playing for different crowds… and it kind of fires us up too… to play for new fans and know that they're going to be excited to watch us. That's a good feeling”
That excitement extends to headlining the brand new Sunburnt Country festival and being part of something from the ground up. “I'm honoured that they would ask us to come and help kick that thing off,” Aldean says. Festivals might look chaotic from the outside, but he knows exactly what his role is. “You've got people that are wanting to get out and go drink and have a good time and listen to music and just, you know, have a blast. And it's our job to kind of make sure that happens.”
When it comes to choosing between massive festival crowds and tightly controlled arena shows, Aldean admits he does have a favourite. “Typically, I like arenas for a couple of reasons,” he explains, pointing to production, lighting, and the fact that weather can’t ruin the night. Still, festivals offer something you can’t replicate indoors. “Looking out and seeing like that sea of people to me is something you can't put a price tag on either.”
That said, the show itself doesn’t drastically change depending on the setting. “The show's kind of, it is what it is,” he says. “We play our show, our songs, and kind of do it our way.” The goal stays the same no matter where he’s playing. “I think our job is to go out, entertain people, play our songs, and make sure they leave feeling like they spent their money wisely… That to me is the ultimate goal.”
With more than 30 number one hits to choose from, building a setlist is a real balancing act. “Well, I gotta say it's a good problem to have, right?” Aldean jokes. His approach is simple: play the biggest songs, keep an eye on what’s hot right now, and make sure the hits that “move the needle” are front and centre.
While songs can get swapped in and out, it’s rarely a last-minute decision. “Do you send everybody else into a frenzy if you do that on the fly? Yes,” he admits laughing. “So it's usually a little bit of a conversation beforehand.”
From afar, Aldean has noticed Australia’s country scene continuing to grow. “When we went over there 10 years ago, it was a pretty eye opening thing,” he says. “I don't think I expected it to be as good as it was when I got there.” Now, seeing new festivals launch and local artists thrive only confirms what he already suspects. “Those things don't happen without a lot of support, so you gotta imagine that country music is doing really well over there right now.”
He’s also bringing familiar faces along for the ride, including Corey Kent, someone he’s toured with before and genuinely loves having around. “He's one of the nicest guys in the world,” Aldean says. “Our families have gotten to be really good friends,” making the tour feel less like work and more like hanging out with people he trusts.
All of this touring comes as Aldean gears up for the release of his new album Songs About Us. The title is exactly what it sounds like. “It's about me, it's about you, it's about all of us,” he explains. “These are the songs that, you know, are kind of the soundtracks to our lives.”
He describes the album as more personal than past projects, touching on love, heartbreak, loss, and the stuff people don’t usually post on Instagram. “We all have things we're dealing with… and so, you know, I feel like these are kind of songs for all of us.”
Fans can also expect to hear some of that new material live. “We're playing a couple, maybe three new songs from the album,” he says, with the possibility of even more by the time the tour rolls around. It’s all about balance. “You don't want to like oversaturate it with a bunch of songs people don't really know yet… but we also want to show them what to expect on the new album.”
And when the lights go down and it’s finally time to walk onstage, Aldean knows exactly what he wants to deliver. “I want to come out like a stick of dynamite,” he says. “Let's blow the fucking room up and let's get it going.” For him, it’s about leaving nothing on the table and making sure fans walk out stunned.
“I want them to leave there talking about that show that night, the next night, two weeks later.” That moment, right before the chaos begins, is still the best part. “It's honestly what I love.”
Tickets for Sunburnt Country are available via ticketmaster.com.au
Tickets for Jason Aldean’s Full Throttle Tour are available via livenation.com.au
