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These days, country music’s premier shredder Keith Urban thrives on delivering his sweat-drenched set of hits to exhilarated fans from the stage of the Bakkt Theater located in the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas. Not so long ago, however, just the thought of a Las Vegas residency brought darker thoughts to the dual ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year. Read on to learn how Keith Urban learned to love Las Vegas and his unique connection to audiences in the desert mecca.
Keith Urban is a former residency resister
“I resisted a residency for literally years and years,” Keith Urban confesses in a Yahoo News per USA Today feature. Surprisingly, even the word struck fright into the heart of the man who sings Better Life and ignites Wild Hearts. “It sounded like death to me.”
The New Zealand-born American-Australian consumed himself with fear over performing rote repetitions ad nauseam. Quickly, however, Keith Urban realized that the audience is the key to making a residency sizzle. “You’re not changing venues, but the audience is changing.” Keith relishes the challenge of playing to diehard devotees and other “curious people who might know me from one song or from American Idol.”
Adamantly, Keith Urban declares “I like the people” of his desert community home. He has made it through three residencies now. He also recalls when he and his band, The Ranch, opened for Hall & Oates back in the 90s and played their own sets “at a tiny bar” in the Hilton. The fact that so many of the same folks fill seats now moves Keith Urban to his core. Naturally, the artist reciprocates gratitude. “It gives me a feeling of roots. I don’t feel like I’m on a cruise ship.”
With an energy that never wanes, Keith Urban admonishes his audience to “forget about life beyond this arena” while he takes the stage. That same spirit provokes the extension of his dates to eight more shows into July and resuming from November 1-18.
Country Music Alley related Keith Urban’s excitement over returning to his residency at Caesars Palace in June of 2021, long before the recent move across the Strip
With a little love for his friends…
The truth is, a Vegas residency puts more resources in the hands of the performer than any regular tour venue. Keith Urban constructs an all-new lighting design, centered on a wonderful effect. Besides his own string showcase, fans delight in a drum-off between the headliner and his truly heavy-hitting drummer, Terence Clark.
Not by coincidence, Keith Urban sprinkles some special love for some famous friends into the 24 favorites of his own during the set. He throws in Ed Sheeran’s Bad Habits into Kiss A Girl. He also mashes up Taylor Swift’s Anti-Hero into his feel-good classic, Somebody Like You. Urban insists that the impromptu inserts happen with no preplanned thought– simply a stream of consciousness.
Speaking of impromptu moments, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman savored every second of seeing Taylor Swift in Philadelphia on May 14, as noted by Yahoo. Unfortunately, also in the frame was another dancing couple, Phoebe Bridgers and Bo Burnham. Those two have not made their relationship public. Nonetheless, fans of The Night We Met artist knew what they saw on TikTok. Keith apologized for the unintentional announcement. “Phoebe, I’m so sorry,” he lamented.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocbkuvqmebQ
A very special night off
For certain, even the most driven music maker on the Strip earns the right to a day or two of downtime. As Hello! magazine details, Keith Urban’s residency is dark for the day of June 20, which is Nicole Kidman’s 56th birthday.
Without question, no impromptu details or photos will leak to any media concerning the couple’s one-day celebration. Keith’s family plans to attend some of the shows, but this passionate pair consistently defies all the odds to make family and marriage work. A party for two fits just fine.
Do you have plans to see Keith Urban during this current residency in Las Vegas? Let us know in the comments and keep in touch with Country Music Alley.
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