The evening was hosted by Jase Hawkins, Lauren Phillips and Clint Stanaway, co-hosts of Nova 100’s Jase & Lauren, who mingled with the crowd which included Lauren’s mum who made sure she was upfront for her favourite act.
Jase Hawkins, Lauren Phillips and Clint Stanaway
The set opened with an iconic “howdy” from the Nashville native before Jelly Roll announced he was going to do his first Nova’s Red Room “a bit different”, sharing stories which made him emotional at times and performing his songs and a few choice covers for the invite-only audience.
Dressed in his signature denim jacket and backwards cap, he kicked things off with his hit Heart of Stone, alongside his six-piece acoustic band. He followed with Liar, with fans filling in when his mic briefly cut out. Laughing, Jelly Roll declared that he now knew Australia was “the place for it to happen” and thanked the crowd for having his back.
The set continued with Son of a Sinner, I Am Not Okay and Hard Fought Hallelujah, before Jelly Roll surprised the room with some Aussie favourites. The first was Keith Urban’s Somebody Like You, followed by a raucous rendition of The Angels’ Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again where Jelly Roll was out sung by the crowd. He and the band stood for the final epic lines.
He wrapped up with Need A Favour, sharing how special it was to play a show where he could see every face in the room and saying he was going to be back again and again to share such moments again.
Before his final song Save Me, Jelly Roll spoke about the power of music to travel beyond borders, calling it “the song that changed my life”. The set closed with an “Aussie Aussie Aussie” chant followed of course with an, “Oi Oi Oi”.
After the show, Jelly Roll thanked fans, signed merch for those in the front row and waved a final goodbye.
NOVA’s Scott Baker-Smith and Julia Di Gregorio, with Universal Music Australia’s Sam Kelly and Darryl Bailey
Media and industry guests included Channel 9’s Tony Jones and Jo Hall, Nunn Media founder Matt Nunn, Ford Australia General Manager of Marketing Tim Wels and General Manager – Media Partnerships at Universal Music Australia, Darryl Bailey. NOVA Entertainment was also well represented, with Group Head of Partnerships Stephanie Loupelis, Head of Live Event Partnerships Natasha Hampson and Head of Music – Nova Network, Scott Baker-Smith in attendance.
