Luke Bryan, Brothers Osborne Close Out Crash My Playa 2017
After four days of pool party concerts, unlimited alcohol and scenic views, Bryan still had the audience on their feet and dancing along to his two-and-a-half hour set.
Luke Bryan closed out the third annual Crash My Playa on Sunday evening (Jan. 22) shortly before midnight to a crowd of nearly 6,000 country music fans. For four nights, the festival was set on the picturesque beach of the Barcelo resort of Riviera Maya, Mexico, where Bryan, Blake Shelton and Little Big Town headlined the massive audience.
After four days of pool party concerts, unlimited alcohol and scenic views, Bryan still had the audience on their feet and dancing along to his two-and-a-half hour set.
“I want to salute you guys for making this the best Crash My Playa ever,” Bryan said at the start of his performance which kicked off with “M.O.V.E.” “We have to make this night last a long time. I’m not ready to go back yet. We may all need a new liver when we get home.”
On the heels of announcing that he will sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, Bryan said he might have to practice singing it with the crowd. Later in the night he did and quieted those in attendance with his spellbinding performance.
Bryan’s contagious energy was the perfect end to the festival as he had the mostly exhausted, sunburned and hungover audience dancing and shaking along to all of his hits. He segued seamlessly from the fast paced beat driven “Kick the Dust Up,” “All My Friends Say” and “This Is How We Roll” to his slower material including new single “Fast,” “Drunk On You” and “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye.” He then jumped into the front row for “Play It Again,” shaking hands and taking selfies, and performed most of the song seated on the edge of the stage.
Where the night before saw Bryan and Little Big Town joining Blake Shelton for nearly an hour of full band karaoke, Sunday had him singing several traditional country covers of his own including “Dixieland Delight,” “Fishin’ In the Dark,” “You Never Even Call Me By My Name,” and “Two Of A Kind, Workin’ On A Full House.” Later, he’d mashup songs from Kid Rock, Jason Derulo and Neil Diamond much to the excitement of fans who sang along word for word.
Appropriately ending the evening with “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” which included plenty of hip shaking by Bryan, it was evident that neither the festival host or his fans wanted the night to end.
Brothers Osborne helped Bryan close out the final night and told Sounds Like Nashville before their pool party earlier Sunday that they agreed upon attending Crash My Playa the moment they were invited.
“I think when anyone asks if you want to go down to Mexico and get drunk for three days it’s amazing,” John Osborne said. “When it’s also Luke Bryan it’s even more amazing. We’re going out there to have fun. Country music is a party no matter where it is.”
Brothers Osborne proved they were having just as much fun as festival goers throughout their afternoon pool party performance and later on the main stage that night. Their rollicking set included many of the songs off their debut album Pawn Shop including the appropriate “Rum” which had the crowd raising their glasses in unison. Highlights included their Grammy-nominated single “21 Summer,” covers of the Dixie Chicks’ “Goodbye Earle,” a bluegrass inspired Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and a stunning and soulful performance of “Rolling On the River” accompanied by Lucie Silvas. It was on their first No. 1 hit, “Stay a Little Longer,” that had the audience in a frenzy and mesmerized by John Osborne’s guitar slinging.
Lucie Silvas kicked off the evening’s performance showcasing her soulful and ethereal singing style. Songs like the soulful “How to Lose It All” and the funky “Two Birds One Stone” impressed while her Elvis Presley cover of “That’s All Right Mama” left a lasting mark with memorable guitar shredding and powerful vocals.
While the third installment of Crash My Playa may be over, fans can catch up with recaps, interviews, photos and more on our Instagram and website.
