Brothers Osborne // Might As Well Be Us World Tour // Tyler Braden // Live Review // The Ulster Hall // Belfast
Saturday night in Belfast and what better way to spend it in the company of one of the finest contemporary country bands in the business, Brothers Osborne.
Tonight, we are back at The Ulster Hall, which is no mean feat for this band of brothers, the last time I saw Brothers Osborne in Belfast was at The Limelight back in May 2018, that night blew my mind and started me on a journey to fully appreciate what modern country is all about and what it brings to the live stage, I say it every time I attend a country gig locally that more people need to get out and witness it for themselves, the musicianship, the atmosphere, the raw energy and passion that the Irish crowds, north and south of the border bring to the occasion it just magical. Tonight will be no exception.
From Deale, Maryland, to the iconic Ulster Hall in Belfast, Brothers Osborne have been clocking up the miles, winning over an army of fans far and wide with a high-octane live set and a collection of fine songs to capture the imagination. The duo of brothers TJ Osborne (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and John Osborne (lead guitar, background vocals). The duo signed a recording contract with EMI Records Nashville in 2012 and began releasing music the following year. The rest is history, with four studio albums under their belt and the last their self-titled released just last year, there is no shortage of material for the band to whip Belfast up into a frenzy and take them on one serious country rollercoaster ride as C2C (Country To Country) looms just around the corner.
In tow this evening, we have the fabulous Tyler Braden for company. Tyler has been ripping it up on stages across the globe, supporting some of the biggest names in the business, so it is an absolute pleasure to have him here in Belfast tonight. As always, the Belfast country audience does not disappoint, turning out in force for the bands they love, when I saw Brothers Osborne back in 2018 at The Limelight, they played to an audience of around 900 souls, tonight The Ulster Hall holds closer to 2000 which tells you how much an impact country has hand here in Ireland over the last number of years, this will be one gig Tyler and the boys will remember for a while. 8pm sharp and the lights drop.
Tyler Braden and his band take to the stage, and the Belfast audience immediately erupts as one by one they take their places and get stuck right in! Tyler’s raspy voice cuts through the mix as they deliver a breathtaking performance that has the crowd stomping their feet from the off! Tyler has the local lingo down to even test out a bit of Belfast slang, with a “What’s The Craic” shout to the Belfast massive who all have a good chuckle as he endears himself to the Northern Ireland audience. Tossing in a brief version of The Proclaimer’s “500 Miles” and even some Elvis to keep the crowd on their toes, Tyler’s version all his own of course. His voice is exceptional, soaring out through this iconic venue it has the Belfast audience captivated, the passion pouring out bellowing from his lungs, it is a memorable performance indeed. Tyler wraps up his set with his current US single “Devil You Know” As he finds Belfast in fine voice singing along with every word. As with every support act our time together is all too brief, a short 30-minute set allows us to get a great taste of what Tyler and his band have to offer and no doubt sometime soon he will grace us once again in our beautiful city, to once again share in that “Craic”.
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If there’s one thing that stands out when you see Brothers Osborne live, it’s how real they are. Like, these guys don’t just play country music – they live it. And man did that energy hit hard in Belfast’s Ulster Hall last night.
The place was packed. Sold out, buzzing with anticipation, and you could feel the excitement building as the lights dimmed. You know when you’re at a show and the crowd is just waiting for the first note to hit? That was Ulster Hall. And when that first chord rang out, the roof nearly came off.
They kicked things off with “Skeletons” and right away, you knew it was gonna be a hell of a night. John Osborne’s guitar playing was absolutely next level. He’s got this style, this grit, that you just don’t see every day. And T.J. – his voice. Damn. That’s the kind of voice that gives you chills, like it’s been forged from whiskey, heartbreak, and a lifetime of road trips.
The crowd? Pure fire. Everyone knew the lyrics, especially on songs like “Stay a Little Longer” and “It Ain’t My Fault.” And when they dropped “21 Summer,” you could feel the whole room sing along like one massive choir. There’s something about those songs that hit home in a way you don’t expect – they’re nostalgic, but also just… alive, if that makes sense. Like, you’re in the moment, but you’re also transported to some country bar out in the middle of nowhere.
One thing I’ve gotta mention is the vibe between the brothers. They’ve got this incredible chemistry. T.J. is the showman, always hyping the crowd up, cracking jokes, making sure we’re all as hyped as possible. But you can tell John’s just as much the backbone of the show, letting his guitar do most of the talking. At one point, he went into this insane solo, and the whole place just went silent, mesmerized by his playing.
They even had a few moments where they stripped things back, just a guitar and that voice. I swear, you could hear a pin drop. Songs like “I’m Not For Everyone” were pure magic live. There’s this rawness to their music, and hearing it up close like that, in a venue as intimate as Ulster Hall, just made it more real.
Oh, and the crowd energy? It was electric. Belfast definitely knows how to bring it. Between every song, people were chanting and cheering like it was the biggest night of their lives. And the brothers? They were loving it. T.J. kept feeding off the energy, thanking everyone for showing up, and giving us a few stories from the road.
Towards the end, they brought the house down with “Shoot From The Hip” and “Heart Shaped Locket.” Honestly, the place was shaking. You know you’ve seen something special when a crowd sings so loud, it feels like the band is just riding on the wave of that energy.
By the time the encore hit, everyone was still buzzing. It didn’t matter how much we were sweating or how tired our feet were – we weren’t going anywhere until those brothers had played their final notes. And they didn’t disappoint, wrapping up with a bang that had everyone chanting for more.
Look, if you’re a country fan and you get the chance to see Brothers Osborne live, don’t even think twice. These guys bring it, and they’re the real deal. Last night at Ulster Hall wasn’t just a concert – it was an experience. One of those nights you’ll be talking about for years to come.
BREAK MINE EP OUT NOW VIA EMI RECORDS NASHVILLE / SNAKEFARM IN THE UK
Break Mine EP is available digitally here, and their previously released self-titled fourth studio album is available here.
Brothers Osborne Break Mine EP
1. “Break Mine”
2. “We Ain’t Good At Breaking Up”
3. “Back Home”
4. “Get To Movin’ Again”
JANUARY 2025 TOUR OF
THE UK & IRELAND
BUY TICKETS HERE
Brothers Osborne Might As Well Be Us World Tour Dates
Jan 17- Dublin, Ireland – 3Olympia Theatre
Jan 18- Belfast, UK – Ulster Hall
Jan 21- Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy
Jan 23- Newcastle, UK – O2 City Hall
Jan 25- Manchester, UK – O2 Apollo
Jan 26- Leeds, UK – O2 Academy
Jan 28- Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy
Jan 29- Bristol, UK – O2 Academy
Jan 30- London, UK – Eventim Apollo
Photography: Mark McGrogan
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