Holding a steady place at the top of country music for over two decades, Little Big Town brought their signature four part harmonies to Citizens Live at The Wylie for a perfect night of music. Ever since their late nineties kickoff, the iconic quartet has been building a massive catalog of soulful country hits that rely on pure talent rather than flashy production tricks. Taking the stage on their For The Art Of It tour, the group set out to celebrate the organic roots of real musicianship in support of their fresh studio record, It’s A Dying Art. Walking into the packed Wylie, still just a few weeks old, felt like stepping into a giant living room full of friends ready for a night of honest songwriting.
With just her voice and her guitar, Nashville singer songwriter Ashley Ray kicked off the night with an incredible display of raw storytelling. She stepped up with lyrics that hit straight to the heart, immediately grabbing the audience by the lapels with songs about love and family. Her down to earth humor between songs made everybody feel instantly connected to her journey as an artist. She played a brand new song, “Live, Laugh, Live, Lexapro,” for only the third time, and it was a major hit with the Yinzer crowd, with more than a few relating very, very much! Ashley was the perfect choice to kick things off, having been touring with Little Big Town for over 20 years, and despite being a bit sick, she warmed up the crowd with a grit and grace that made her short opening slot feel like a main event all on its own.
Little Big Town was supposed to be revealed by a rising curtain, though some technical difficulties left a mostly lowered curtain, a confused crowd, and an equally confused band. But the seasoned country stars made the best of it and moved in front of the curtain, right to the edge of the stage, to open their set with “Dying Art” off of their new album It’s A Dying Art. Karen Fairchild, rocking some awesome Pittsburgh pants from Steel City, took center stage with a smoldering, effortless lead presence that drew every eye in the house. Kimberly Schlapman brought her bright, soaring soprano vocals, and boundless positive energy, lighting up the front row with every high note. Jimi Westbrook delivered his rich, soulful tone, and steady rhythm guitar work that anchored the entire group dynamic seamlessly. Phillip Sweet rounded out the mix with his warm baritone depth, adding the foundational low end harmony that gives their sound its distinctive punch. After all these years, these four remain, still doing the thing they love the most and bringing the most harmonious country jams to the world.
The setlist was carefully built to give folks a taste of everything Little Big Town does best. The first half of the set had a nice blend of new tracks from It’s A Dying Art, with some surprises mixed in, letting the new material shine with crisp live arrangements. “Sucker For A Sad Song” had a hefty dose of soul, which allowed it to lead perfectly into a cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” Gone but impossible to forget, Dolly’s spirit lives on in her music, and she would have been proud of every single person singing along at the Wylie. Right in the middle of the show, the curtain lowered, properly this time, and the band gathered around a cluster of microphones for a stripped-back acoustic break that was pure vocal magic. “The Door” and “The Idea” were dripping with emotion, the acoustic renditions sounding even more bittersweet. While being on tour is an incredible opportunity, it’s difficult leaving loved ones behind for so long, and “Jet Plane” perfectly captured all of the emotions surrounding this.
Once the intimate interlude wrapped up, Little Big Town launched full throttle into the second half of the show packed to the brim with their biggest chart topping hits and absolutely perfect country vibes that everyone was craving. When the familiar opening notes of “Pontoon” echoed through the Wylie, thousands of voices joined in as if everyone in Pittsburgh had been transported straight to a sun drenched lake house. “Boondocks” turned into a singalong so loud and unified that literally nothing else in the world seemed to matter in that moment. The set closed with “We Could Have It All” from It’s A Dying Art, sending the night off with some of the most incredible harmonies.
October 25th, 2026
