Ian Fisher @ Zanzabar - Louisville

February 12th, 2025 : Ian Fisher & Band, Anna Smyrk, and Ian Abel @ Zanzabar - Louisville, KY

Singer-songwriter Ian Fisher and his band brought his Go Gentle Album Release Tour to Louisville, KY on February 12th, performing many of the songs from his recently released album Go Gentle. The album is both heartbreaking and beautiful, a tribute to his mother who died of cancer in 2023, as well as a moving commentary on death and grief. Although the crowd was modest on this rainy and cold Wednesday evening, it made the experience that much more intimate for those in attendance. Singing many songs from the new album this evening, such as “In Her Hand”, “Mother Please Forgive Me”, and “Tigress”, Fisher’s voice was both gentle and powerful, with him visibly embodying a range of emotions as he sang these songs. Although the songs at times had a somber tone, they were powerful in the emotions and messages they conveyed and Fisher and his band had fun together on stage and with the crowd. They even played an encore song at the insistence of the crowd, with Fisher asking with a laugh if we wanted something upbeat or if we felt like crying. Opening the show this evening was Ian Abel, a Louisville native who now lives in Nashville, who wowed the crowd with his rock/country vibe and, with his band mate Jesse, performed a short but lively set of songs that included killer covers of Heart’s "Alone” and The Cranberries’s “Zombie”. Australian artist Anna Smyrk performed, as well, with this being her first time in Kentucky and the U.S.. She really impressed with her beautiful voice and songs and will hopefully tour here again soon! It was a fun evening of music!

Anna Smyrk

Ian Abel