Noah Kahan at BST Hyde Park

Fresh from playing Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, the audience gets even bigger as American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan headlines a sold-out Friday night at BST Hyde Park. “This is the biggest show I’ve ever played in my life,” Kahan tells the 65,000 festival-goers, as fans are treated to a gig that’s big on joyful sing-alongs, surprise guests and a surprisingly equal amount of both energy and emotion. 

The folk-pop star has had what can only be described as a “meteoric” rise in the past two years, but he’s not the only major name in the jam-packed schedule. The lineup of both up-and-coming and established acts includes Gigi Perez, Paris Paloma, Asha Banks, Gracie Abrams and FINNEAS, who shows he’s not just producer and collaborator to sister Billie Eilish, but a captivating and talented performer in his own right as he also debuts his new band The Favors alongside American singer Ashe. 

Abrams, back from her own Glastonbury debut, delivers an engaging, headline-worthy set. There’s the signature soft, husky tones in acoustic Blowing Smoke and I Love You, I’m Sorry, as well as showcasing even more vocal power and range in the latter, plus mass sing-alongs for That’s So True, underpinned by graceful and magnetic stage presence. There’s even a special guest in the form of collaborator and The National frontman Aaron Dessner to debut new track Crazy Girl. It’s a satisfying performance as she closes with a euphoric Close to You…and it’s not even the end of the evening yet. 

It is virtually impossible not to have heard chart-topping Stick Season from its viral rounds or radio airplay, but tracks leading up to this finale definitively prove Noah Kahan is no coasting, one-hit wonder. In fact, “wonder” is an apt word as this is an astonishingly good headline set, every song sounding unexpectedly better with a crowd chorus of thousands. From charismatically hilarious, self-deprecating introductions (“this is about making people you love feel like s***”) to his own version of “the Eras tour” on a second, intimate stage taking acoustic song requests, it’s consistent, captivating and definitely crowd-pleasing. 

Highlights include the unreleased, rockier Deny, Deny, Deny, soulful and delicate falsetto on fan-requested Strawberry Wine, as well as an extended version of Maine on the B-Stage. Beyond catchy upbeat tracks like Dial Drunk and stomping guitar energy throughout, it’s vulnerable and emotional too, paying tribute to those who attended alone (You’re Gonna Go Far) before dedicating Call Your Mom (with Gigi Perez) to his mother in the audience. Though the singer and his band are enthralling alone, there’s magic in duetting with Gracie Abrams (Everywhere, Everything) and later a bigger shock with Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi walking onstage mid-track. 

Kahan and Capaldi singing Northern Attitude in matching Chelsea FC shirts was probably not on the bingo card of the screaming fans, and it’s an unforgettable moment. The encore continues to soar with a celebratory Stick Season to close, complete with fireworks on this 4^th July. He may be a Gen-Z favourite with an algorithm boost who until recently doubted his own success, but Kahan fully owns and deserves this stage with his musicality, personality and hard work. It’s his season now, and the crowds of Hyde Park are lucky to witness it too. 

Bev Lung
Photos: Virginie Viche

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

Watch the video for Stick Season here: