Cole Swindell brought his country hits to the hills of Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in Lafayette on Thursday, August 6, delivering a performance that felt perfectly suited for a summer night concert.

Fans packed in early as there seemed to be little space left before the show had even started. Opening the night was rising country singer-songwriter Ethan Garner. The Georgia native seemed to have no problem getting the crowd engaged as fans began to sing along to his music. Covers such as Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” and Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel.” quickly had fans dancing along, holding their drinks in the air.

Taking the stage as opener gave Garner an opportunity to introduce himself to an entirely new audience. Rather than looking overwhelmed by the moment, he appeared comfortable, bringing an energetic and personable presence to the stage. After moving to Nashville and attending Belmont University, Garner began building a following through live performances and social media before signing a publishing deal with Big Yellow Dog Music.

What stood out most was Garner’s ability to treat the opening act as more than just a warm up. He worked to connect with an audience that may not have been familiar with his name, displaying the confidence of a seasoned professional. Following Garner’s set, anticipation continued to build across the orchard as the stage was prepped for the night’s headliner. When Cole Swindell finally entered the stage the atmosphere shifted immediately, and a slew of country hits was about to take the stage.

Swindell came out to screaming fans as he wasted no time jumping into his all too familiar hit “Flatliner.” The high-energy opener immediately had the crowd singing along and set the tone for what would become a night filled with songs spanning more than a decade of his career.

From there, Swindell kept his foot on the gas, moving through fan favorites including “Love You Too Late” and “Single Saturday Night.” With a packed crowd stretching across the grounds of Beak & Skiff, Swindell rarely had to sing a chorus alone. Fans consistently filled in the words, something he appeared to feed off of as he moved from one hit to the next.

While the night was built around the hits, Swindell also showed why his live performances have connected with country fans for so long. Between songs, he took time to interact with the crowd and soak in the atmosphere. The connection was especially noticeable with songs like “Girl Dad,” a heartfelt tribute to his one year old daughter, Rainey.

As the final notes rang out across Beak & Skiff, Swindell thanked the fans for having him. From longtime favorites to newer material, his set offered a little bit of everything while keeping the crowd engaged from beginning to end. More than a decade into his career, Swindell showed that his connection with fans remains as strong as ever, sending the packed Lafayette crowd home after a memorable summer night at the orchard.

Cole and the band continue their tour with a show in Connecticut on Saturday, August 8, followed by stops in Minnesota and Iowa.