My mother raised me on country music.

At the time, I wasn’t entirely grateful for the education.

Like most kids, I tended to assume my parents’ musical tastes were hopelessly outdated and that I would naturally discover something far cooler for myself. As the years have passed, however, I’ve had to admit that she knew exactly what she was doing.

These days I love country music.

The great songs, the storytelling, the heartbreak, the humour and the honesty all resonate with me far more than they ever did when I was younger.

So when I spotted A Country Night in Nashville, it seemed like it would make for a good evening out.

Not only that, it gave Emma and I an excuse to visit the Edinburgh Playhouse together for the first time.

Despite the number of gigs and shows we’ve attended over the years, we’d somehow never ended up there together before.

The show itself focuses largely on the more popular side of country music. This wasn’t going to be a deep dive into obscure album tracks or forgotten Americana classics. Instead, it was a celebration of the songs that have made country music one of the most successful genres in the world.

And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Sometimes it’s nice to spend an evening surrounded by songs that everybody knows and loves.

The audience certainly seemed happy enough.

From the moment the show got underway, there was a real feel-good atmosphere throughout the theatre. Hit followed hit, with plenty of opportunities for singalongs and more than a few people struggling to stay seated.

Country music has always had a unique ability to bring people together and that spirit was very much in evidence throughout the evening.

What impressed me most was the enthusiasm of the performers.

Tribute and celebration shows can sometimes feel a little mechanical, as though the musicians are simply working through a checklist of familiar songs. That wasn’t the case here. The cast clearly loved the music and threw themselves into every performance with genuine energy.

That enthusiasm quickly spread to the audience.

While the setlist naturally focused on the biggest crowd-pleasers, there was enough variety to keep things interesting and enough quality in the performances to ensure the evening never felt like karaoke with better lighting.

Most importantly, it was fun.

Not every concert needs to be a life-changing artistic experience. Sometimes it’s enough to spend a couple of hours listening to great songs, singing along and enjoying yourself.

This was one of those nights.

Looking back, I found myself thinking about my mum and all those country records she used to play when I was growing up. It’s funny how music works. Songs that barely registered with you as a child can end up becoming some of your favourites later in life.

She’d probably be quite pleased that I finally came around.

Emma and I certainly enjoyed ourselves, and it was nice to tick another venue off our list together.

The videos below capture some of the evening and a show that celebrates the enduring appeal of country music. If you’re a fan of the genre’s biggest songs and want a fun night out, you’ll likely enjoy it every bit as much as we did.

And if your parents spent years trying to get you to listen to country music, perhaps give them a little credit.

They might have been right all along.