If you’re lacking patriotism, you might want to consider attending a Chris Janson concert. Appearing on stage last weekend as part of the 2025 Beaufort Water Festival, Janson’s stage setup featured not one, but two, American flags hanging from both the keyboard and the drumkit. Ever the polished professional and showman Janson promised a good time for fans and said he would be unwavering in his love for his country. He was also quick to thank the fans and point out what a blessed life he has led as a result of said fans. As for the set itself, it was quite concise but packed a whallop. All of his #1 singles were played (Done, Good Vibes, Fix a Drink, Buy Me a Boat, All I Need Is You) and most of them in the set’s first half. Janson, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and a frequent guest on Fox + Friends, promoted his new album, due out later this year. From that album he played the saccharine ballad “The Bride”, a true story about how he met his wife and the breezy, feel good cut “Me and a Beer Can”. The set’s apex moment was the uber-patriotic “This Flag” a timeless ballad that takes a shot at those not standing for the National Anthem.

Arguably the most impressive facet of the live show was Janson’s musicality. Over the course of 15 songs he played harmonica, piano (more on that later), drums and guitar. The piano playing however was the most memorable. During opening song “Redneck Life” he veered off into Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire” and it was equal parts mesmerizing, magnetic and utterly delightful. Janson pounded the keys with a fury and a bravado that made one pay attention almost immediately. Nearly every song played was dovetailed by a cover, whether it be the spiritual “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” or the Animal House anthem “Shout” Janson was quick to entertain and even quicker to offer praise, to both the fans, the event volunteers and the host city. After the fans demanded he play “Buy Me a Boat” Janson indulged before tearing into Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” and Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”

Equally as entertaining as Janson, two support acts also did their part to make the evening most memorable. Beaufort’s own Chris Jones took to the stage with a veteran band that offered up some sterling renditions of some of country’s finest songs. Whether it was Yoakam’s “Guitars and Cadillacs” or Jerry Reed’s “Eastbound and Down” the set was without flaw and was an indelible way to start the evening.

Though she was not the headliner, rising Canadian singer-songwriter Alli Walker played a set of 18 songs (and more than a dozen covers as outros) and stamped her name as one worth remembering. Possessing the same kinesis and swagger of Lainey Wilson, Walker’s set was fiery, confident and awe-inspiring. A world champion bagpipe player (she grew up on Prince Edward Island after all), she rattled off an impressive string of cover songs (Kashmir, Crazy Train, Thunderstruck, Shipping Up to Boston, Sweet Child of Mine, Wanted Dead or Alive, Copperhead Road, Hotel California, Devil Went Down to Georgia and Redneck Woman) and proved that her bagpipe playing is indeed quite stellar. That she included “Redneck Woman” was probably not accidental.

Shortly after the electric bagpipe medley of cover songs, Walker unveiled a brand new song “First Time Living” and with a sweetly affecting chorus it might very well find itself on country radio in due course. Worth noting, the studio version of the song features guets vocals from Gretchen Wilson. Other memorable originals included the radio-ready “Home Town Home” and the spunky “That’s the Country In Me.” Spunky is a good way to describe Walker and much of her originals possessed that kind of fiery spirit. Whether it was set opener “I Saw the Devil”, the cheeky “I Like Big Trucks” and “Bad Boys” or the more arena-ready “Dirt On Us” Walker held her own and proved that the spotlight is well within reach. Having already performed at this year’s CMA Fest, Walker appears well on her way to having a career worth remembering.