Coverage by Larissa Blankenship
Even before Avery Anna walked on stage you could feel the electricity in the crowd at The Ritz in Raleigh, NC on October 16th. The country-rock singer opened her Blood Runs Thicker tour in Raleigh with a packed crowd and incredible atmosphere. Anna, an Arizona native, began her music career during the COVID-19 pandemic by posting covers on the social media platform Tik Tok. Her posts went viral and she moved to Nashville, TN in 2021, later signing to Warner Music Nashville. Anna released her first EP, Mood Swings, in 2022 followed by her debut album, Breakup Over Breakfast. Her music career has taken off since her social media days. Anna has a strong and dedicated fan base and has collaborated with well known country artist such as Parmalee and Sam Barber. Her sophomore album was released in May of 2025. The songs on the album, Let Go Letters, are based off of letters written by fans at her concerts which highlight struggles in their lives. Anna continued this tradition on her current tour with pens, paper, and a mailbox at the merch booth.
Paying homage to her Arizona roots, Anna’s stage was decorated with a desert scene of cacti and rocks. Opening the night with “Man Downstairs”, Anna strutted on stage to the cheers of the crowd. Anna’s stage presence drew everyone in, often leaning down to look fans in the eye and holding the mic out to let the crowd sing the lyrics. The singer incorporated songs from both albums as well as some unreleased songs such as “Roadkill”. Anna also covered a few songs including “These Boots are Made for Walkin’” where she sang into a mic embedded in a red cowgirl boot. The entire crowd sang along and danced as Anna looked out and smiled from the stage. The night closed out with “Blood Runs Thicker” from her recent EP forgive, forget. If you are looking for a new country-rock obsession, Avery Anna is the place to start. You can catch her on tour through the end of this year.
