Keith Urban Brings Connection, Hits, and Heart to Rogers Arena in Vancouver

Keith Urban’s High and Alive World Tour rolled into Vancouver’s Rogers Arena on Wednesday night, marking his first global trek since 2022 for The Speed of New World Tour. For fans, it was the first chance to hear songs like “Straight Line” and “Messed Up As Me” outside of his Las Vegas residency. The night blended old hits, fresh material, and a few unexpected curveballs, all anchored by Urban’s charm and guitar heroics.

Before Urban took the stage, three rising country artists warmed up the room. Karley Scott Collins opened with a brief but confident set, closing with her fiery single “Cowboy Sh!t.” At just 23, Collins showed why she’s one to watch, delivering her moody brand of country with grit and polish. Alana Springsteen followed, leaning into pop-country energy. Borrowing a hat from a fan, she worked the stage like she already belonged there. Her cover of Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” drew one of the night’s loudest early singalongs.

The biggest surprise among the openers came from Chase Matthew. At 27, with only a handful of years in the industry, Matthew played like he’d been headlining arenas his whole life. His set moved from swaggering stomp (“Drives My Truck”) to glossy country-pop (“Pull Up”) to hooky, Nashville-polished cuts like “No Way Around It.” He’s hard to pin down stylistically: country, rock, and soul all peek through, but the songs hit instantly. More impressive was his stage presence: equal parts charismatic frontman and gracious newcomer. By the end, Rogers Arena was his. You could feel him gaining hundreds of new fans in real time.

Then came Urban. The house lights dimmed, a silhouette appeared on a white sheet that resisted its fall, forcing urban to come to the side to see the audience. Once the sheet removed, the arena roared as he launched into “Straight Line.” From there, it was a two-hour joyride through a career spanning three decades. Early hits like “Where the Blacktop Ends” sat neatly next to newer tracks like “Messed Up As Me,” and Urban made it all sound effortless. “Long Hot Summer” lived up to its title, and “Better Life” reminded fans why they fell in love with him in the first place.

Urban’s connection with the crowd was as much a highlight as his setlist. He wandered down side ramps to chat with fans and stopped for selfies mid-song.

Musically, the band was razor sharp. Fiddle player Gabi Louise, a recent addition, shined during “Days Go By/I Had Some Help.” Katie Ohh stepped into Carrie Underwood’s part on “The Fighter” and absolutely owned it. The rhythm section of Kevin MacIntyre (bass) and Jimmy Paxton (drums) kept everything grounded, while Urban swapped guitars like they were toys, ripping solos that were equal parts technical and joyful.

The surprises kept coming. A stripped-down stop at a smaller stage in the back of the arena brought fans closer than they ever expected. There, Urban performed “One Too Many,” Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” and his own “You’ll Think of Me” with just an acoustic guitar. It was intimate, and maybe the most special part of the night.

Back on the main stage, the hits rolled on: “Somebody Like You,” “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” and “Wasted Time” all landed perfectly. Covers dotted the setlist, from Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sundown” to a rousing closer of New Radicals’ “You Get What You Give.” The latter turned Rogers Arena into a massive singalong, proof that Urban knows exactly how to send fans home buzzing.

Keith Urban may be 35 years into his solo career, but on Wednesday night, he felt as present and energized as ever. And in the end, that’s Urban’s greatest gift: making an arena of thousands feel like a personal conversation.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
9/12 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
9/13- Regina, SK – Brandt Centre
9/15 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre
9/16 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
9/19 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
9/20 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
More information here.

Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!

KEITH URBAN

CHASE MATTHEW

ALANA SPRINGSTEEN

KARLEY SCOTT COLLINS

All Photo Credit: Caroline Charruyer