LIVE REVIEW: BUCKLE & BOOTS 2026 - THE PADDOCK STAGE - ERLEND GUNSTVEIT

It never ceases to amaze #TEAMw21 the difference between how contestants on The Voice fare from other countries compared to the UK where it's a short break in a lifetime of anonymity. As it to prove the point we have the Norway winner in front of us from Norway. The fascination of the Nordics with Americana is also a mystery however as it has thrown the likes of Daniel Borge, Fifth Floor and Glimtvist among others in our direction, it's always worth giving them a listen.

Erlend would take to the stage with a big "How are you?" before opening up with "In The Hearts They Leave Behind". Not sure many of us expected quite the authentic Randy Travis style vocal, but it was a most welcome surprise.

The chorus when it came was magnificently wordy, and took some effort to squeeze them all in. In a further revelation, Erlend revealed that he could move from a deep bass sound to almost falsetto with very little effort.

The intro and title of "Bad Weather ( On A Good Hair Day)" possibly didn't set folk up for what was lyrically a quite downbeat song. By the end though the guitar playing and Erlend's delivery had the crowd won over. The title track of his 2024 album "Watch Me Fall" was another self confessed sad song, a ballad that was a piece of classic country, with another high pitched section.

Erlend's ability to give a new twist to that classic country sound came with a Craig Wayne Boyd co write "Talk To Me Texas", about a lost love in Texas. The one nod to his homeland came with "Home To You", a song that had served him well on The Voice, about the joys of being home typified by the view from his room. - "I Love You Guys" he would say on the reception he received.

A glimpse of the new album due later this year would come with "I Miss Arizona" which sounded very strong on first listen. There was admittedly some shameless milking of the audience, inserting "Buckle & Boots" related lyrics into the song, and the crowd duly lapped it up.

One final song, his new single "16th Avenue" was introduced with a tale of how he had come to grow up with country music, and it was etched into the lyrics, along with the realities of Nashville. A most entertaining set, and definitely an album to look out for later in the year.