Zac Brown Band immersed in emotions at Sphere show in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS The Sphere continues to impress with its ability to transform every performance. From U2s groundbreaking 2023 residency to the Backstreet Boys current pop extravaganza, the venue adapts its cutting-edge technology to match the artists style. The Zac Brown Band began their eight-show run on December 5, 2025, shaping the arena into a vivid, immersive experience that brought Browns storytelling to life with stunning visuals.

"The biggest revelation preparing for the Sphere is realizing that imagination is the only limit," Brown shared. "This is the most ambitious show weve attempted, and the venue offers the perfect canvas. Fans arent just watchingtheyre part of the experience."

The nine-member group, dressed in coordinated white for the second half of the evening, centered the production around their newly released eighth studio album, Love & Fear. The 140-minute show balanced tracks from their 20-year catalog with fresh material. The concert opened with the hard-rocking Heavy is the Head, featuring Brown crowned and showing off his biceps, while new tracks like Hard Run, Animal, and I Aint Worried About It made their live debuts.

Visuals amplified the music with crumbling canyons, schools of fish seemingly large enough to engulf the arena, dancing skeletons, and cracked glaciers featuring the bands faces. Haptic seat effects synchronized with the graphics further immersed the audience.

"What a night," Brown, wearing his signature wide-brimmed hat, exclaimed multiple times, clearly moved by the environment. The show unfolded in three segments tied to Browns reflections on fatherhood, self-growth, and gratitude toward military veterans. Early in the performance, a pre-recorded message from Brown framed the night as a love letter to fans.

While some quieter moments, like Browns anecdote in a fur coat leading into Colder Weather, caused brief restlessness, the overall performance highlighted the bands depth. From acoustic solos to piano-driven ballads, Brown led a versatile ensemble including fiddler Jimmy De Martini, guitarist/pianist Coy Bowles, multi-instrumentalist John Driskell Hopkins, drummer Chris Fryar, guitarist/keyboardist Clay Cook, percussionist Daniel de los Reyes, bassist Matt Mangano, and guitarist/singer Caroline Jones.

A touching highlight occurred during Toes, when Hopkins, living with ALS, crossed the stage with a trident cane, demonstrating his resilience and connecting deeply with the audience. Another standout moment was the tribute to Jimmy Buffett during Knee Deep, where beach-themed visuals, a parrot, and a tiki torch created a serene homage to the late artist.

The show also emphasized the bands genre versatility. They infused soul in Loving You Easy with Glinda-like floating visuals, delivered emotional depth in the piano ballad Butterfly, and energized the crowd with the new track Let It Run, featuring Snoop Dogg on the recording.

Each residency at the Sphere has pushed boundaries, but the Zac Brown Band added a profound layer of emotion and storytelling, making their Las Vegas run a deeply memorable experience for fans.

Author: Ava Mitchell