Leeds Beckett University
With his raw lyrics about mental health, shame and alcoholism, Kahan taps into the zeitgeist – yet his rousing tunes make this a reaffirming live show
The microphones on stage facing out towards the audience make sense the moment Noah Kahan opens his mouth. The crowd start singing with him and know every single word: “You build a boat, you build a life / You lose your friends, you lose your wife / You settle in to routine / Where are you? What does it mean?”
These are remarkable times for the 26-year-old Vermonter. After signing a record deal in his teens, Kahan made a mainstream breakthrough with 2022’s Stick Season. Since then he has collaborated with Hozier (on the aforementioned opener, Northern Attitude) and been nominated for a Grammy for best new artist just hours before this gig.
