CMAT at the Forum

After Sarah Crean’s soothing vocals prepared the Forum for a night of Irish girl sass, CMAT made her grand entrance amid a surge of smokey red lights. Red was a consistent visual factor throughout the entire performance, from the draped backdrop to her lips, tights, hair and leotard. The stage was propped with a mini staircase that resembled a giant tiered wedding cake, topped with an opulent golden mirror – perhaps a nudge to the theme of the album, Crazymad, for Me, which explores heartbreak and troublesome relationships.

The Dublin-born cowgirl opened the show with her hit singles Nashville and California, priming the mosh-pit with sheer excitement for a night infused with an explosion of dramatic hysteria and her devilishly camp panache. The country-pop hybrid genre merged to create a unique mix that can only be described as Dolly Parton meets Taylor Swift meets Kate Bush. CMAT managed to madden the crowd even more with her cover of Bush’s legendary song Wuthering Heights, based on the ultimate romance novel by Emily Bronte. The high-pitched vocals penetrated and stunned the auditorium, heightening the excitement for this young, fresh and fiery talent with an old soul.

As the pop sensation introduced alternative rocker John Grant to sing their acclaimed track Where Are Your Kids Tonight?, the screams became deafening. The Forum turned into her backing vocals as they sang along to the infectious chorus. The Irish rowdy redhead posesses such a powerful stage presence that’s uninhibited, colourfully humorous, exhibitionistic and unapologetically herself. Rolling around the floor of the stage in the splits and a dance routine with her keyboardist, it’s no wonder why this adorable sweary hellraiser is worshipped by fans across the globe.

Having been nominated for a Brit Award for best new international album after only two studio releases, CMAT shows her passion for her craft not only in her silky soulful vocals and her folksy guitar skills but also in her wild personality

Nina Doroushi
Photos: Guifré de Peray

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

Watch the video for Where Are Your Kids Tonight? featuring John Grant here: