CMAT at Brixton Academy
Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson – aka CMAT – sold out Brixton Academy with ease after an incredible year, but unfortunately had to postpone it. Now, her long-awaited show is finally here, and the December drizzle fades into memory as the crowd counts down the seconds.
But CMAT doesn’t walk onstage. Instead, a spotlight finds her perched on a ledge near the merch stand as she utters Janis Joplining’s opening line: “I’m a writer.” A pause as Brixton Academy screams for a solid couple of minutes before she sings the rest, looking every inch a diva wearing sunglasses indoors.
Then, chaos looms as CMAT bolts through the crowd, yelling “Brixton! Brixton!” along the way. Finally onstage, she joins the (ridiculously attractive) Very Sexy CMAT Band and launches into The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station, with the whole venue chanting its mantra: “OK, don’t be a bitch, the man’s got kids, and they wouldn’t like this.”
“Would you like to hear some Irish country rock ‘n’ roll?” she asks soon after, but there’s far, far more to her music than that.
CMAT gives a masterclass in how fun pop music can be, as she kicks, yodels and delightedly squeals in ecstasy all night long; it’s like we’re all in on the joke. The honky-tonk joy of Have Fun! has an opening line about parakeets above a Clapham Tesco, and recent single When a Good Man Cries has the room yelling “DUNBOYNE DIANA” and the “Kyrie Eleison” coda.
Indeed, a CMAT show is playful, chaotic, and cathartic all at once, but the quieter moments are just as captivating – take Iceberg’s soulful softness, or the piano-led intro to Where Are Your Kids Tonight?, with keyboardist Colm Conlan crooning John Grant’s vocals.
However, the stunning Euro-Country is something else entirely; the statement title track from CMAT’s 2025 album opens with a hymn-like Irish language first verse, then it builds up to her horrific memories of experiencing Ireland’s post-Celtic Tiger years: “I was 12 when the das started killing themselves all around me…” As she notes afterwards, it’s about a specific time and place, but has resonated far beyond its intended audience – that’s the power of music, folks.
CMAT and the Very Sexy CMAT Band have been dancing all night long, but Brixton Academy gets invited to join in, whether it’s the TikTok routine which ruled the summer to Take a Sexy Picture of Me, or the Dunboyne, County Meath Two-Step to I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby! By the time we reach the euphoric climax of Stay For Something, it’s a wonder the roof hasn’t caved in, such is the prolonged high volume everyone’s been singing all night long.
With her incredible songwriting, undeniable charm and heavenly vocals, how could you not fall for CMAT? Tonight, among everything else, she described a song as a tit-slapper, wiggled her bum at the crowd, and sprawled her body down the stairs while singing.
Next year, she plays Alexandra Palace. For the love of God, don’t miss it.
Gem Hurley
Photos: Virginie Viche
For further information and future events, visit CMAT’s website here.
Watch the video for Take a Sexy Picture of Me here:
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