Photos and Review by Rebecca Clark
Some artists put on a concert. Dierks Bentley creates an experience.
Returning to CMAC on Saturday, July 11, Bentley’s Off The Map Tour gave everything fans have come to expect from one of country music’s most entertaining live performers: stellar musicianship, genuine appreciation for his audience, plenty of laughs, and a setlist that effortlessly blended chart-topping hits, bluegrass jams, and unique surprises.
The evening also featured two very different but equally compelling opening acts, making for a lineup that celebrated country music’s past, present, and future.
Kaitlin Butts kicked off the evening with a performance that immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention. Opening with her take on Cher’s “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down),” she showcased a voice that feels rooted in traditional country while bringing a modern edge to everything she sings.
There’s a little bit of Lainey Wilson’s vibe mixed with the storytelling spirit of The Chicks in Butts’ style, but she still manages to blaze a trail that’s entirely her own. One of the standout moments of her set was a haunting cover of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night,” proving just how versatile she is as a vocalist.
Before performing her viral hit “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me),” Butts shared the story behind the song. She joked that someone she knew was doing “some ‘Goodbye Earl’ shit,” leading to a dream where she killed him. When she told her mom about her dream, her mother simply replied, “He ain’t gotta be dead…just dead to you.” The crowd laughed before Butts launched into the cheeky breakup anthem.
Her songwriting is refreshingly witty and often takes unexpected turns, something that separates her from many of today’s mainstream country artists. She also looked every bit the country star, wearing a beautiful mini dress paired with a cowboy hat and boots that perfectly matched her vintage-inspired sound.
Her band was equally impressive, especially with the addition of a fiddle player that added an authentic old-school country feel throughout the set. Combined with her energetic stage presence and constant interaction with the audience, Butts proved she’s an artist worth keeping an eye on.
If Kaitlin Butts represented the future of country music, Ricky Skaggs reminded everyone why its roots still matter.
Walking onstage with a smile, Skaggs simply declared, “It’s time for some bluegrass,” before launching into an incredible display of musicianship.
One thing Bentley consistently gets right is choosing opening acts that span generations. Pairing a rising artist like Butts with a legendary performer like Skaggs gave fans a chance to experience the genre’s evolution all in one evening.
Before the music began, Skaggs shared stories about family, joking that his son and grandchildren would soon be moving in with him in Nashville, meaning he might not be able to wander around the house late at night quite as freely anymore.
He also took a heartfelt moment to speak about the healing power of music before diving into classics including “Heartbroke.”
Skaggs also introduced “Say a Prayer,” his first new single in ten years, speaking about the importance of faith and prayer. He proudly shared his love for America and mentioned that his ancestors fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina, adding another personal layer to an already meaningful set.
Skaggs was backed by an exceptional group of musicians who brought incredible energy to the stage. Together, they created a rich, full sound that perfectly showcased the spirit and musicianship of bluegrass.
Next up was the moment everyone had been waiting for. The stage glowed with deep red lights as fog rolled across it, setting the scene before Bentley emerged with “Burning Man.” The song’s slow-building intensity made it the perfect opener, steadily building momentum before erupting into the high-energy performance that would define the rest of the night.
Throughout the night, one thing became abundantly clear: no matter how large his career has become, Bentley still knows how to make every venue feel personal.
One of the evening’s most memorable moments came before he performed his single, “Off the Map.” Bentley spent several minutes talking with the crowd about why returning to Canandaigua always means so much to him.
He praised CMAC audiences for truly appreciating live music, joking that everyone there knew how to have fun while enjoying a cold beer. Asking fans to raise their drinks in the air, he laughed that he was simply checking to make sure everyone was staying hydrated before admitting he’d had a few himself.
That confession led into a story about his recent trip to Fenway Park to see a friend perform. Despite having every backstage pass and VIP credential imaginable, he said the experience was still chaotic. “I had every single hookup you could possibly have at a concert and it still was a gigantic pain in my ass,” he laughed.
The experience gave him a new appreciation for everything fans go through to attend concerts, from traveling and booking hotels to navigating crowds, and he sincerely thanked everyone for making the effort year after year.
He then tied the story beautifully into “Off the Map,” explaining that concerts like these are temporary escapes from everyday life. The venue will still be there tomorrow, but the shared experience happening that night only exists in that moment. For a few hours, everyone gets to put real life on pause and simply disappear together “off the map.”
It was one of the most thoughtful concert introductions I’ve heard in quite some time.
One of the biggest highlights of the night came when Bentley welcomed Ricky Skaggs back to the stage. Together they performed “Highway 40 Blues,” creating a perfect blend of Bentley’s modern country band with Skaggs’ bluegrass mastery. The collaboration felt completely natural and quickly became one of the night’s standout moments.
The pair continued with “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line,” before Kaitlin Butts joined them for a spirited performance of “Tulsa Time,” making it one of the evening’s most memorable collaborations.
At one point, Bentley tried to high-five a fan but somehow kept missing him. Later in the show, he admitted that it had been bothering him that he had left the fan hanging. So, he made sure to find him again and give him a proper high five. It was such a small moment, but it perfectly showed Bentley’s personality and how much he genuinely interacts with the people in the crowd.
Bentley kept the show feeling spontaneous throughout the night. During “Somewhere on a Beach,” he had the crowd enthusiastically shouting “No!” and “Hell no!” on cue, creating one of many audience participation moments.
The visuals during “Gold” were especially striking, with the stage glowing in warm golden light while black-and-white imagery filled the video screens, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.
Before performing “Living,” Bentley once again expressed how much he loves returning to CMAC. He called the Finger Lakes area a hidden gem, saying that while people often rave about living in the South, every visit reminds him just how incredible life is in this region with its beautiful outdoor living.
The acoustic portion of the evening also showcased Bentley’s generosity as a bandleader. Rather than keeping the spotlight solely on himself, he stepped aside to let Ben Helson take over lead vocals for one song while Bentley playfully joked around with microphones and interacted with the rest of the band.
One of the night’s coolest surprises came when Bentley began taking song requests from fans.
Acknowledging that his catalog has grown so large he can’t possibly play every favorite every night, he happily obliged requests for “Settle for a Slowdown” and later thanked the fan for suggesting it because it had been a while since they’d performed it. He also played “Freeborn Man” after another request from fans in the front row.
Later, Bentley teased that he was about to perform a song from the 1970s and wasn’t sure if everyone would know it. The second the opening notes of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” rang out, the entire amphitheater went crazy, singing every single word back to him.
Bentley also invited several fans onstage for shotgun beers, creating another hilarious interaction that perfectly captured the relaxed atmosphere of the evening.
Then came one of his signature moments. Leaving the stage briefly to transform into Captain Holden Johnson for “Drunk on a Plane,” Bentley returned fully committed to the character, complete with costume, exaggerated personality, and even a bra tucked inside his jacket.
Bentley constantly interacted with his bandmates, jokingly kicking them off risers, hamming it up during guitar solos, and even laying across the stage riser in the back while channeling a little bit of “Free Bird” rock star energy.
It’s obvious everyone onstage genuinely enjoys performing together and Bentley embraces at how talented his band it.
As if the night hadn’t already offered enough entertainment, Bentley closed the show with the return of his hilarious alter ego band, Hot Country Knights. Each member fully embraced their over-the-top ’80s/90’s country personas, creating something that feels like if Spinal Tap collided with Talladega Nights.
The comedy only got better when one band member dramatically swung his keyboard around his shoulder, only for the strap to unexpectedly snap. The keyboard crashed hard into the pit, clearly unplanned and it broke into pieces. Without missing a beat, he grabbed his microphone stand instead and began flexing with it, perfectly fitting the ridiculous energy of the performance.
Complete with synchronized dance moves, outrageous outfits, and nonstop humor, the band ripped through covers of “Trouble,” “Pickup Man,” “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!,” “Friends in Low Places,” before finishing the night with “Fast As You.” It was chaotic, ridiculous in the best way, and exactly the kind of ending only Dierks Bentley could pull off.
Dierks Bentley has long since mastered the art of balancing incredible musicianship with genuine humility. He never lets the production overshadow the people in the room, taking time throughout the evening to make fans feel seen and appreciated.
Whether he was celebrating bluegrass alongside Ricky Skaggs, giving Kaitlin Butts another chance to shine, sharing heartfelt stories, taking fan requests, or embracing complete comedic chaos with Hot Country Knights, every moment felt authentic.
Bentley is a true entertainer, and he creates memories that will make you laugh when you think back on them.
Judging by the smiles leaving CMAC Saturday night, this was another incredible night that fans will happily come back for again and again.
Dierks Bentley Photo Gallery
Ricky Skaggs Photo Gallery
Kaitlin Butts Photo Gallery
