John Hiatt

John Hiatt plays Indigo at The O2, London on 1 July 2026. Guitarist, pianist and songwriter born in Indianapolis and long based in Nashville, he moves between rock, folk, country and rhythm and blues with a storyteller’s instinct. Since his 1974 debut Hangin’ Around the Observatory, his catalogue has traced a line from lean roots rock to more acoustic textures, with key stops like Bring the Family, Slow Turning, Stolen Moments, Perfectly Good Guitar, Walk On and Crossing Muddy Waters. His songs are often picked up by other artists, a sign of sturdy writing that travels well.

On stage, Hiatt builds on narrative lyrics, direct melodies and a slightly rough-edged voice. The set folds country ballads into mid-tempo rock and blues-tinged pieces, drawn across decades without fuss. Recent chapters, including the collaboration Leftover Feelings with The Jerry Douglas Band, slot alongside earlier favorites, keeping the focus on songcraft rather than nostalgia. Expect a flow that shifts from intimate, acoustic moments to fuller, guitar-led passages, where the stories stay front and center and the arrangements keep the pulse steady.