Zach Bryan: Who is he and why is he so popular in Ireland?
Few artists in the history of music and in the space of two years can go from playing in front of 1,200 people to three sold-out concerts in front of 180,000 people.
Zach Bryan
has filled the gap for a new generation of Irish music fans yearning for American singer-songwriters and storytellers in the same milieu as
Bruce Springsteen
and
Garth Brooks
.
Both Springsteen and Brooks have been successfully promoted by Peter Aiken of
Aiken Promotions
who would not have gone to such lengths to book a venue as big as the
Phoenix Park
for Bryan without knowing his audience.
The
three concerts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night
are the first in the Phoenix Park since 2018.
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Bryan last played here in April 2023 in front of 1,200 people in the Helix. Aiken recalled a meltdown online with some 10,000 fans trying to purchase tickets.
Since then, aside from
Taylor Swift
with 220,000 monthly listeners, Bryan has become the most streamed artist on Irish Spotify.
Like Brooks, Bryan is from Oklahoma and sings songs about heartbreak and loss. Despite his 29 years, he has had a lot of the tragedy in his young life – his mother died in 2016 having struggled with alcoholism for much of her life.
Bryan spent eight years in the US navy before releasing his first album in 2019. It is only since quitting the navy four years ago that he has become a huge star
Bryan is the biggest artist that a lot of Irish people have never heard of. As with Brooks, there is a town and country divide. He's hardly off regional radio and his biggest fan base is, unsurprisingly, in the northern and western parts of the country. Just 10 per cent of tickets to his concerts were bought in Dublin.
When the gigs were first announced, locals in the vicinity of the Phoenix Park didn't know if he was a rapper or a heavy metaller, Aiken recalled.
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Zach Bryan at Phoenix Park: Stage times, set list, weather and more
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Bryan is commonly referred to as a country artist, but he doesn't like being pigeonholed in that territory.
'He's come from nowhere. His songs are about heartbreak and loss and all the things that people don't like talking about any more,' said Aiken.
'Maybe [those] in Dublin aren't aware of him, but people outside Dublin are very well aware of him.
'He's the real deal. He's not country per se but he's very Springsteen. He's a great storyteller and a very dynamic performer – he has a lot of charisma.
'When you have 160,000 people here, they're going to know the words to every song; it's going to be a very unique, special atmosphere.'
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Zach Bryan: the country music star who has sold out summer concerts at the Phoenix Park
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The weather is set to be fair for the weekend and no rain is forecast. Fans will need to stock up on water and sunscreen with temperatures reaching 25 degrees on Sunday.
For most fans it will be a 45 minute walk from the Parkgate entrance of the Phoenix Park to the concert location. Gates will open at 5pm and the support acts, Turnpike Troubadours and Noeline Hofmann, will kick things off from 6pm.
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Irish Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Zach Bryan Phoenix Park map and routes as fans told how to avoid long queues
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Dublin Live
6 hours ago
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Zach Bryan Phoenix Park tickets, banned items, stage times, transport, weather, and everything you need to know
The Phoenix Park is set to welcome country chart-topper Zach Bryan for a series of three gigs this weekend. Over 180,000 fans expected to flock to the park for his sold-out shows. The Oklahoma native, known for his raw, poetic songwriting and electrifying live shows, rose from posting homemade tracks on YouTube to topping the charts with hits like I Remember Everything, Pink Skies and Something in the Orange. His Phoenix Park shows - on Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 of June - mark his biggest performances in Ireland yet and a major jump from playing to smaller crowds at The Helix just three years ago. The last time he performed in the capital, it was to a modest crowd of 1,500 at the DCU venue back in April 2023. Aiken Promotions, who are managing the concert, have confirmed that a robust security barrier is currently being installed around the Phoenix Park stage, as it prepares for its first large-scale concert since Ed Sheeran's performance in 2018. 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Gardaí have implemented a comprehensive traffic and policing plan to manage the crowds and ensure safety, but drivers should anticipate delays and consider alternative routes if travelling near Phoenix Park on Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening. Concertgoers are advised to allow ample time for their journey. It's suggested to factor in at least 45 minutes to walk from public transport stops to the concert site itself. Luas: Broombridge Luas Station is approximately a 30-minute walk from Phoenix Park, while the Luas stop at Heuston Station is about 40 minutes from the park's centre, or roughly 9 minutes from the park gates at Chesterfield Avenue. Train: If you're taking the train, Heuston Station is your best option. From there, you can catch a bus from Parkgate Street, or walk-it's about 45 minutes on foot to the concert site, and around 9 minutes to the park gates. Bus: Dublin Bus services such as the 26, 38b, 39, 70, 99, C5 and C6 all serve Phoenix Park. Private coach and minibus services are also operating from various locations nationwide, and these will park inside the park. Bus Éireann is providing special services from Cork, Limerick and Galway. The Marathon Group will be running dedicated concert buses from Earlsfort Terrace and other routes that will drop you inside the park. Car: There's no parking near the venue or inside Phoenix Park itself. Gardaí will have a traffic management plan in place, and Dublin City Council will clamp or tow cars that are parked illegally. If driving is your only option, try to carpool and use park and ride facilities (such as Red Cow, M3 Parkway, Navan N51, Cheeverstown, Carrickmines or Stillorgan). If you park in a city centre car park, double-check the closing time. Drop-off/Pick-up: Drop-offs can be made at the Dublin Zoo car park, where stewards will be on hand. For pick-up, it's the same spot, but whoever's collecting you needs to be inside the park by 9.30pm. What will the weather be like? 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That set featured a mix of emotional ballads, fan favourites and big singalong moments - although setlists often vary from show to show. Here's what he played at Stagecoach 2025: Overtime Open the Gate God Speed Blue Jean Baby (First time played live) Whiskey Fever 28 Fifth of May Oklahoma Smokeshow Dawns Motorcycle Drive By Tourniquet Lawyers, Guns and Money (Warren Zevon cover - Introduced as his favorite song of all time) East Side of Sorrow '68 Fastback Oklahoma City Purple Gas (Noeline Hofmann cover - with Noeline Hofmann) If She Wants a Cowboy American Nights Pink Skies Something in the Orange The Good I'll Do Heading South Snow (Dedicated to Read Connolly's dog who is sick) I Remember Everything (with Willow Avalon) Nine Ball Hey Driver Heavy Eyes Burn, Burn, Burn Quittin' Time (Extended horns/strings intro – The Godfather theme) Encore: 30. Revival What is security like and what items are banned? For the gig, it's best to travel light and only bring the bare necessities. You're allowed a small bag (A4 size or smaller), your mobile with your pre-downloaded ticket, ID, sun cream, weather-appropriate attire (a raincoat or rain mac is suggested as brollies are not allowed), an empty 750ml plastic reusable water bottle (no metal bottles), and comfy shoes, as the trek from the entrance to the venue will take at least 45 minutes and the event is fully standing. Don't bring bags larger than A4, grub, beverages, booze, brollies, any type of chair, prams, scooters, skateboards, laptops, cooler boxes, hampers, or professional cameras (small 35mm cameras are fine). Selfie sticks, flag poles, large banners, or any item that could block views or jeopardise safety are also prohibited. The concerts at Phoenix Park in Dublin are completely cashless events. Gig-goers are advised to bring a card or digital payment method for any purchases, as cash won't be accepted. This includes transactions for merchandise, food, and drinks. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
