‘Do we have any truck drivers here tonight?” is not a question you hear at many gigs in Manchester. But when Chris Stapleton asks, countless cheers go up from a sea of cowboy hats. It’s emblematic of just how vastly popular the US country singer now is: he’s collaborated with everyone from Taylor Swift to Adele, racks up more monthly listeners on Spotify than the Eagles, Amy Winehouse or Dolly Parton, and has countless awards to his name.
The Kentucky man hardly trades in spectacle. The stage is a modest, almost homely setup, further enhanced by having his wife and collaborator, Morgane Stapleton, close by his side as they sing intimately to one another. Joined by a killer five-piece band, the opening White Horse – all big, punchy, rousing country-blues to be blasted while hurtling down a freeway – is immediate testament to what a tight unit they are.
