Live Review : Teddy Swims @ Synovus Bank Amphitheater, Atlanta GA - Aug 12th 2025

Chris Collett
Aug 13
3 min read

Updated: Aug 19

There is something different about watching an artist perform in their hometown. The connection, the pride, and the shared history seem to pour into every note. On August 12, 2025, Atlanta’s own Teddy Swims brought all of that to the Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park. The sold-out crowd felt more like an extended family gathering than just another tour stop.

Before the music began, the crowd erupted as wrestling legend and fellow Georgian Diamond Dallas Page stepped onto the stage to introduce Teddy. The moment added an extra layer of hometown pride and set the tone for a night rooted in community and celebration.

Teddy, born Jaten Dimsdale in Conyers, Georgia, grew up surrounded by gospel, soul, and Southern grit. He first gained attention in 2019 with his genre-spanning YouTube covers, then signed with Warner Records and began carving out a sound that blends soul, R&B, pop, and country into something entirely his own. His band, Freak Freely, has been with him through the rise, and together they create a live experience that is as tight as it is emotionally charged.

From the moment Teddy walked out in his signature comfortable yet stylish look, he had the crowd in the palm of his hand. They opened with “Not Your Man” and “Hammer to the Heart,” setting the tone with confident vocals and a full, warm band sound. Teddy’s voice is rich, raspy, and full of emotion, gliding from tender to powerful within the same song.

The setlist was a journey through his catalog. “Apple Juice,” “She Loves the Rain,” and “Devil in a Dress” pulled the crowd into his storytelling. “Bad Dreams” and “Funeral” carried a raw intensity, while “What More Can I Say” and “911” felt deeply personal.

One of the most touching moments of the night came when Teddy performed a song he wrote for his newborn baby. His voice softened as he introduced it, sharing how becoming a father had shifted his perspective and deepened the meaning of his music. The lyrics carried a mix of hope, promise, and vulnerability, and the amphitheater fell into a hush as he sang. It was clear that this song was not just for the crowd but a message meant to last a lifetime for his child.

Three quarters of the way through the set, the band added a playful moment by having two fans on opposite ends of the stage draw a random letter and number to choose a cover song from their list. That spin of fate landed on Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody,” which Teddy and the band delivered with both reverence and their own soulful twist.

When the first notes of “Lose Control” rang out, the crowd erupted, singing along so loudly it felt like the entire amphitheater was alive with the sound. The encore began with the slow burn of “Bed on Fire,” moved into the bittersweet “Goodbye’s Been Good to You,” and closed with “The Door,” which left the night on an emotional high point.

This was more than just a concert. It was Teddy Swims and Freak Freely giving back to the city that shaped them, pouring heart and soul into every note, and sharing a night that Atlanta will not soon forget.

Setlist

1.Not Your Man

2.Hammer to the Heart

3.Apple Juice

4.She Loves the Rain

5.Are You Even Real

6.Devil in a Dress

7.Bad Dreams

8.Free Drugs

9.Funeral

10.What More Can I Say

11.911