BY Caroline Mimms | April 26th, 2026
Hunter Hayes made his way to Atlanta’s Center Stage on Wednesday, April 22nd, and if you were there, you already know it was a great night.
Franklin Jonas kicked things off as the opener, and he came ready. His set was high energy from the start and he had the crowd with him early…but the standout moment came toward the end of his set when he stepped off the stage and brought the show straight to the audience. He worked his way through the entire room, dancing, interacting with fans, making sure everyone got a moment.
He wrapped things up with an acoustic song performed right in the middle of the crowd, which made for one of those unexpectedly intimate moments you don’t really see coming at a concert. No stage, no distance, just him and a guitar surrounded by the audience. The room loved it, and he more than earned his applause walking off. Safe to say Franklin Jonas made some new fans in Atlanta on Wednesday night.
Hunter Hayes then took the stage and kept the momentum going. His set pulled from both ends of his career, the songs fans have had on repeat for years alongside tracks from his latest album Evergreen, released earlier this year in March. The new material held its own right alongside the classics, which says a lot about where he is as an artist right now.
Hayes is someone who clearly loves being on stage, and that translates. Atlanta was locked in all night, and Center Stage, already one of the better rooms in the city for this kind of show, felt like exactly the right setting for it. Close enough to feel like you’re part of something, spacious enough to actually enjoy it.
