Teddy Swims Lights Up the 2025 NRL Grand Final: Full Set, Big Vocals, and a Stadium-Sized Moment
The roar of Accor Stadium hits first, a wall of applause and low bass that signals something special is about to happen. Then Teddy Swims steps into the lights, and the place shifts. It feels intimate despite the size, like every seat gets the front row.
Teddy Swims, with the soul voice and tattooed heart, took the 2025 NRL Grand Final stage in Sydney with his band, Freak Freely. The set blended his chart-topping hits, a stadium-ready rock cover, and the kind of storytelling that makes a crowd go quiet. In one run he gave heartbreak, swagger, and catharsis.
This performance stands out because it does what sports and music both do best. It gathers thousands of people, then unites them in a single feeling. By the end, the applause says the rest.
Who Is Teddy Swims?
Teddy Swims is the stage name of Jaten Dimsdale, a singer and songwriter from Georgia. He came up performing live, singing in church, and covering every style he loved, from soul to country to rock. Those roots built a voice that can soar, crack, and comfort in the same breath.
He first gained global attention with covers that spread fast online. Then the original songs arrived, and the audience followed. His 2023 project, “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1),” helped cement his place as a mainstream artist with a deep bench of ballads and belters.
His band, Freak Freely, is more than a backing group. They shape the room with him, adding grit when a song needs heat and pulling back when it needs space. That chemistry is clear on a big stage like the NRL Grand Final.
The Performance at Accor Stadium
Staged at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, this set keeps things tight and focused. Four songs, no filler, each with a distinct mood. It opens haunted and tense, swells into resolve, explodes into rock, then lands on the massive hook that made him a global name. The pacing reads like a story arc, and each chapter hits.
Setlist Snapshot
| Song | Mood and Theme | Standout Feeling |
|---|---|---|
| Bad Dreams | Moody, anxious, longing | Isolation and a plea for peace |
| The Door | Heartache to self-preservation | Strength through goodbye |
| TNT | Loud, playful, electric | Stadium rock swagger |
| Lose Control | Addictive love, raw vulnerability | Craving and collapse |
Why This Set Works So Well
This show is a lesson in balance. Start with tension, release it with courage, light the fuse with rock, then close with a giant pop song that still feels personal. The arc plays across a sports final because everyone there understands pressure, joy, and the edge between both.
Career Background
Teddy started by singing covers and posting performance videos online. The range made people stop scrolling. He could deliver country tenderness, R&B depth, and rock grit without losing his own tone. That flexibility earned him a global fanbase, then a spot on big stages.
Original music took him higher. Songs about heartbreak and healing turned into steady touring and sold-out rooms. “Lose Control” became the breakout that crossed formats and borders. The live show locked it in. He is the rare singer whose studio power gets even bigger on stage.
His 2023 project introduced a focused sound, where soul, pop, and a hint of rock meet. It showed a writer who knows how to cut a feeling down to one clean line, then sing it like a last chance. That trait shines across this NRL performance.
Additional Content and Collaborations
Beyond this set, Teddy’s catalog includes standout collaborations and covers that many fans found first. His feature on pop and soul duets helped him reach new ears, while classic rock and R&B covers showed his range without losing his identity.
For those new to his work, start with the official live videos and sessions. Then move to his studio tracks to hear how the arrangements shape around that signature voice. It is a short path from one song to a whole weekend of listening.
Song-by-Song Highlights
- Bad Dreams: Minor-key tension, whispered pleas, and an unsettled calm. Ideal opener for focus and mood.
- The Door: Break-up with backbone. The chorus is a gut punch and a lifeline.
- TNT: A nod to AC/DC that matches the moment. Loud, fun, and built to echo.
- Lose Control: The radio smash that still feels intimate. Huge chorus, honest verses.
Wrapping Up the Performance’s Impact
From the darkness of Bad Dreams to the bravery in The Door, through the voltage of TNT and the confession of Lose Control, this set tells a full story. It fits the NRL Grand Final because it meets the crowd where they are, then lifts them even higher. Teddy and Freak Freely deliver pain, power, and passion in one tight run.
Watch the live arc move from whisper to roar, then back to a final plea that lingers.
Stay Connected
For more live clips, studio releases, and behind-the-scenes moments, follow Teddy Swims across his social channels. Subscribe on YouTube, add the songs to playlists, and keep an eye out for tour dates. The live show is where these songs breathe, and this NRL set proves why.
Got a favorite track from the setlist, or a line you can’t shake? Drop it in the comments and pass the video to a friend who needs a stadium-sized singalong.
