Kate Nash at Shepherd’s Bush Empire

In celebration of the 10-year anniversary of her debut album Made of Bricks, Kate Nash embarked on a UK tour, ending with a sold-out show at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire, a night full of dancing and defiance.

Bursting onto the stage in a huge puffy-sleeved dress, she teased the crowd, playing the intro to her most famous hit – Foundations – on the piano, triggering a mass singalong that was so enthusiastic it was hard to tell if the audience noticed that she stopped singing after the first chorus, having exited the stage for a costume change. Upon her return, her new red fishnet combination exuded confidence, which set the bar for what an incredible show she was about to put on.

Complete with a three-piece girl band, the songs that once sounded so tame and innocent on record become loud and empowering. She began with Mouthwash, to the delight of everyone, before finding a punkier sound with Dickhead – even including a shout-out to Theresa May as the audience threw their middle fingers in the air. She then slowed things down with Birds, and the darkened room was soon filled with the lights of phone torches.

Nash ended the incredible main set with a full rendition of Foundations, much to the crowd’s joy, followed by Little Red. Of course, the screams and begs for her return started immediately, and she happily obliged, delivering a magical five-track encore, ending with Merry Happy.

The show was political where it needed to be – discussing important social issues as well as the stigmas surrounding mental health – but it was equally fun and carefree, allowing both the singer and her fans to be encased in their own happy-go-lucky world together. In the ten years since Made of Bricks was released, the songs have become timeless in their themes, changing from endearing pop to relevant music, but Nash has remained as authentic, rare, and exceptional.

Naomi Penn
Photos: Mike Garnell

For further information and future events visit the Kate Nash website here.

Watch the video for Foundations here: