Noah Kahan at Wembley Arena

American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan’s single Stick Season has spent six weeks atop the UK’s singles chart. Not bad for a song named after the forlorn time of year between autumn and winter, as referred to by locals of the singer’s home state of Vermont.

Thanks to his knack for catchy choruses and the nature of online virality, Kahan’s success has undeniably skyrocketed – evidenced by tonight’s first of two sold-out Wembley Arena appearances, just three months since commanding a much smaller crowd at the Kentish Town Forum. Opening the show with the aptly named All My Love, the adoration within the room is staggeringly palpable. Lyrics are echoed from every inch of the venue, as if audience participation is a requirement. For those dragged along as Valentine’s Day dates, it’s a bold introduction to the singer who still somehow remains relatively underground. And yet, that’s all part of the charm. Kahan is an unassuming superstar. Dressed in a “chocolate suit that doesn’t feel like me” and his hair pulled back into his signature plaits, he moves around the stage with an ease and honesty that directly contrasts the pretentiousness of many of his peers. The production is simple – lights, a couple of stage riders and an LED screen backdrop make up the set – keeping the focus on the music.

Between the songs are moments of reflection and motivational speeches, alongside a joke or two. “My goal is to leave you worse off than you came in”, he declares during the introduction to Growing Sideways, a poignant song about “complicated feelings”. For many, this feels like therapy; mass catharsis soundtracked by Kahan’s raspy folk tone and the joyful sound of an occasional banjo. The singer’s ability to tell personal stories – many of his own childhood and hometown – through his music and turn them into collective feelings and memories is something to behold. Tonight doesn’t feel like strangers existing 3,000 miles away from the songs’ inspiration, but instead, as though each lyric is a shared lived experience. Heavily vocal-led with soft intros and dramatic crescendos, Kahan’s music lends itself spectacularly to a live setting. No emotion is left untouched as fans sing, yell and cry through the setlist.

Songs from 2022 album Stick Season unsurprisingly make up the majority of the set, though it is some of the lesser-known inclusions that stand out. Forever, an additional track released just days earlier, provides a sweet and 14^th February-appropriate moment of tenderness, while deceitfully cheerful older tune False Confidence has the crowd on their feet. At times the set feels rushed, perhaps exaggerated by the show’s later-than-advertised start time, though it seems no song is sacrificed as the singer breezes through his repertoire of soul-stirring anthems.

The emotionally charged A View Between Villages joins hits Stick Season and Homesick for a rousing and euphoric finale. As Kahan and his band take their bows, the crowd erupts into one last chorus of cheers. With an even bigger arena tour set for the UK this summer, and a legion of passionate fans beside him, there’s no denying that Noah Kahan is set for greatness. Until then, it’ll be glistened cheeks and croaky voices pouring out of Wembley’s OVO Arena, deeply moved by an evening with the American singer.

Katherine Parry
Photos: Courtesy of Noah Kahan

For further information and future events visit Noah Kahan’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Forever here: