Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge And More Deliver Memorable Performances At Warner Music Luncheon During CRS 2021

The performances were for radio programmers to hear the artists' current singles.

Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge And More Deliver Memorable Performances At Warner Music Luncheon During CRS 2021
Dan + Shay; Photo courtesy of CRS

Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge and more Warner Music Nashville artists came together on Wednesday, February 17 to perform at the Warner Music Nashville Luncheon during Country Radio Seminar 2021. Since the annual conference is streaming this year, the luncheon performances did not take place on a stage. Instead, the label showcase took place within a large, beautiful home where each artist played stripped down versions of their songs in different rooms.

Brett Eldredge kicked off the event with the first performance. Seated in a porch-style room with large open windows and white curtains blowing in the breeze, Eldredge played his latest single, “Good Day,” with his acoustic guitar for accompaniment.

“Hello my CRS friends and family,” Eldredge said before his performance. “I hope wherever this song finds you today, it finds you with a smile on your face. Let’s have a good day.”

As he sang the encouraging lyrics, the camera panned around the open room, showing sun streaming through the windows. Eldredge kept his eyes on the camera as he sang, finishing out the tune with a smile.

In between each performance, seamless transitions took viewers from one room of the house to the next as members of the Warner Music Nashville team introduced each artist. The label’s newest artist, Drew Parker, performed from the home’s foyer. Seated in front of the staircase and armed with his acoustic guitar and a cowboy hat, the Georgia native delivered a powerful version of his single, “While You’re Gone.”

Viewers were then led from the foyer to a wood-paneled room where Cole Swindell performed his song, “Single Saturday Night.” Like all the performances from the showcase, the song was played acoustically, but the tune’s good-time energy and contagious beat was still very present throughout the song.

After Swindell, the show transitioned to a large room where new artist Robyn Ottolini performed her breakout song, “F-150.” The song, which gained popularity TikTok, finds the singer in the midst of a breakup and being reminded of her ex-love every time she sees an F-150 truck like the one he used to drive. Accompanied by acoustic and steel guitar, Ottolini infused genuine emotion into the performance as she sang about being stopped in her tracks when she sees the vehicle.

Veteran artist Michael Ray took the “stage” next to perform his latest single “Whiskey And Rain” from the home’s living room. Dressed in a black leather jacket and singing into a vintage microphone, Ray gave an impassioned performance of heartbreak song with a voice as smooth as the liquor he references in the tune.

Ray’s performance was followed by two new Warner artists, Ian Munsick and Shy Carter. Munsick performed from a side room of the house and proudly displayed his Wyoming roots through both his attire and his music. Dressed in a western shirt and bolo tie, the singer performed his debut single, “Long Haul,” which impacts radio in the spring. In the tune, Munsick pledges his love to a partner while painting a picture of a journey through awe-inspiring western landscapes. The song’s descriptive lyrics certainly stuck out in the acoustic luncheon performance, as Munsick played guitar and a band member played fiddle.

Longtime singer, songwriter and producer Shy Carter followed Munsick and kept the positivity going with his song, “Good Love.” Carter played the keyboard and was joined by a cello player and a guitarist for a slowed down but equally passionate version of the song. Carter’s strong and soulful voice was prominent throughout the performance as the now-evening sun shone through the windows of the home.

The show ended with a dazzling performance from headliners Dan + Shay, who sat outside the home in front of a glistening pool. The duo’s Dan Smyers provided acoustic guitar accompaniment as they sang their latest hit, “I Should Probably Go To Bed,” which exhibited their crystal clear harmonies and Shay Mooney’s impeccable vocal range. The duo also sang their upbeat new single, “Glad You Exist,” to finish out their performance.

CRS 2021: The Virtual Experiences runs through Friday, February 19th, and will feature many more performances and special presentations.