Luke Bryan lights up Long Beach’s new waterfront venue

It was absolutely perfect weather the night of Saturday, August 15th at Long Beach’s new F&M Bank Amphitheater, as opening acts Lanie Gardner, Lauren Watkins, Randall King, and DJ Rock joined headliner Luke Bryan for his Word on the Street Tour promoting his upcoming ninth studio album, Signs — scheduled to be released this year on September 18th. 

Right on the waterfront next to the Queen Mary, this new 11,000-seat venue offers an incredible view of the stage from virtually every seat. And a summer night of country music sung to me by a long-time dream artist on my bucket list was just what the doctor ordered!  

To kick off the night, country artist Lanie Gardner took the stage with an intimate acoustic set.

For those unaware, Gardner first gained attention with her viral bedroom cover of Fleetwood Mac’s classic hit “Dreams”. During her set this night, Gardner performed songs from her upcoming album, Faded Polaroids (Deluxe), set for release on September 4th, 2026. Her traditional country sound blends seamlessly with elements of rock and pop, and her stripped-down performance was the perfect way to start off the evening. Early birds enjoyed mellow renditions of “You Ain’t My Daddy”, “Buzzkill”, “Takin’ the Slow Ride”, and a cover of Audra Mae and The Almighty Sound’s “Little Red Wagon”.

Next to perform was Lauren Watkins, an up-and-coming country singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. Known for her gritty country aesthetic, mixed with her poetic songwriting and modern hooks, Watkins performed songs like “Convenient”, “Heartbreakaholic”, and “Better Love Next Time” from her upcoming new album, If I’m Being Honest (out September 25th — so much good music coming this fall!!). Mid-set, Watkins surprised the audience by singing a cover of current smash hit “Man I Need” (originally by Olivia Dean). 

As the sun began to set, Randall King took the stage with his charming smile, cowboy hat, and unmistakable old-school style.

From a small town of Hereford, Texas, King has built his sound around classic country influences of the 80s and 90s, bringing a traditional feel to today’s country music scene. He performed songs such as “When My Baby’s in Boots” and “One Night Dance” from his 2024 album Into the Neon, before delivering tracks from his 2022 album Shot Glass, including “You in a Honky Tonk” and “Hey Cowgirl”. Adding a nostalgic touch to the night, King also performed a cover of Diamond Rio’s “Mirror Mirror”, giving the crowd another memorable moment.

As Randall King exited the stage, it was time for DJ Rock to take over and spin a mix of hit tunes before Luke Bryan’s arrival. But, as the house lights went down and red neon lights illuminated the stage, the crowd absolutely erupted. I instantly had a ‘pinch-me’ moment, because I’ve been a fan of Bryan’s music since the early 2010s. Being there with a camera in my hand, capturing photos of an artist whose music I’ve listened to and loved for so many years… it felt surreal.

Luke Bryan kicked off the show with his smash hit “That’s My Kind of Night” off his 2013 album Crash My Party. The energy immediately surged through the venue as fans in the pit squeezed closer together, becoming one big, happy dancing family — singing along to every lyric. He then sang chart-topper songs like “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”, “Move”, “Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Every Day”, “Drunk on You”, and “Roller Coaster”.

To celebrate his new album, he performed “Country And She Knows It” that the crowd loved.

As the night went on, Luke couldn’t help himself onstage, swaying his hips and shaking his butt during “All My Friends Say”, his first single back in January 2007 from his debut studio album, I’ll Stay Me. During the middle of his set, Bryan went acoustic on guitar, singing “Buy Dirt” (a Jordan Davis cover), as well as “Do I”, “ Strip It Down”, and a heartfelt emotional song where everyone held up their beer in salute (aptly named “Drink a Beer”).

As the night went on, there wasn’t one person not singing along to hit after hit. More big songs like “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset”, “What Makes You Country”, and “Knockin’ Boots” were sung. During “One Margarita”, Luke Bryan was passed a small red cup filled with tequila along to one lucky fan on the rail, creating yet another memorable moment of the night. Towards the end of his set, everyone in their cowboy boots were lighting up the dance floor, swaying to the beat and singing to “Rain Is a Good Thing”, “Play It Again”, and my all-time favorite, “I Don’t Want This Night to End” — the last song before the encore. As the stage lights went dark, fans began chanting “Encore!”, refusing to let the night get away. Moments later, the lights came back on with Luke launching into what I consider his biggest career hit, “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)”. The entire venue erupted into screams, dancing and singing, with fans belting out every word. It was the perfect way to bring an unforgettable night of country music to a close. It’s an experience I’ll never forget!

Photography by Mikayla Ragovin

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