ERNEST comes back to Boston!!

March 27, 2026

Images and review by Matthew Allen Photograpy

Citizen’s House of Blues

Boston, Mass

ERNEST brought a high-energy, crowd-driven performance to the Citizens House of Blues Boston as part of his Live From The South Tour, delivering a night that blended heartfelt songwriting with Southern pride and pure entertainment.

Kicking off the evening was Chandler Walters, who set the tone with a solid 40-minute opening set. He came out strong with a rendition of “Ramblin’ Man” by The Allman Brothers Band, immediately grabbing the crowd’s attention. His high energy set had the crowd into it from the start.  Mixing in both covers and original songs, Walters warmed up the room nicely and had early arrivals engaged from the start.

Now its time everyone was waiting for. DeVille Records recording artist, ERNEST!! From the moment ERNEST hit the stage, the Boston crowd was locked in. Backed by a super tight band that never missed a beat, the entire performance felt polished yet loose in all the right ways. The musicians behind him added depth and energy to every song, elevating the live experience and keeping the momentum strong throughout the night.

Running through an impressive 27-song setlist, he kept the energy flowing with a mix of originals, fan-favorite covers, and songs he’s helped write for others. One of the most powerful moments of the night came during his tribute to Toby Keith. ERNEST performed “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” which immediately transitioned into a fiddle-led rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The entire venue joined in, creating a goosebumps-inducing, unified singalong that stood out as a defining moment of the show. Other songs on the setlist included “Live from the South,” “Tennessee Quen,” “Boat Named After You”, and an acoustic version of “If I’m Not Careful” with Chandler Walters.

ERNEST’s versatility as both an artist and songwriter was on full display throughout the night. He weaved in covers spanning generations and styles—from Willie Nelson and George Strait to Hank Williams Jr., while also nodding to modern influences like Morgan Wallen and Post Malone. Each cover felt natural, reinforcing ERNEST’s deep respect for the genre while showcasing his wide-ranging musical taste.

A highlight for many fans was his performance of “Fix’n to Break,” a song he wrote that was recorded by Bailey Zimmerman. Moments like this emphasized his impact behind the scenes in Nashville, adding another layer of appreciation from the audience.

Despite the packed setlist, the crowd never let up. From start to finish, fans were engaged and singing and hanging on every lyric. ERNEST closed out the night with his breakthrough hit “Flower Shops,” sending the audience home on a high note and putting a fitting exclamation point on an already memorable evening.

Overall, ERNEST proved why he’s one of country music’s most exciting rising stars, effortlessly blending storytelling, musicianship, and crowd connection into a performance that Boston won’t soon forget.