CMAT delivers a camp masterclass at Newcastle’s O2 City Hall
CMAT brings critically acclaimed ‘EURO-COUNTRY’ to the UK.
Photo: Sarah Doyle
Despite delays on the UK leg of the EURO-COUNTRY tour due to vocal strain from an infected wisdom tooth, CMAT delivered a show to remember, packed with absurd theatrics and punchlines, all in her signature camp fashion.
It’s impossible to ignore the meteoric rise in popularity CMAT has enjoyed throughout 2025, and this is no surprise given the relentless touring schedule, which has seen her perform at multiple global festivals and support alongside high-profile artists like Sam Fender. While the exposure alone has undoubtedly boosted her profile, it is her distinctive persona and undeniable talent for crafting irresistibly catchy melodies paired with sharp lyricism that blends clever wordplay with offbeat pop culture references that truly sets her apart in the contemporary pop landscape.
Her set opened with EURO-COUNTRY closer Janis Joplining, an offbeat, piano-led deep cut that immediately set the tone for the evening. In true CMAT fashion, the launch of the show had to lean into the theatrical and the surreal. After her Nottingham stop saw her emerge atop a bar with one leg in the air, fans arrived wondering what form of chaos she might conjure this time. As the band took their places and pianist Colm Ronaldson eased into the song’s offbeat chords, the crowd scanned the stage for any sign of her until, suddenly, there she was: appearing from the side balcony, draped over the railing, instantly sending the room into a frenzy.
The absurdity didn’t end there. After a quick dash downstairs, the band launched into The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station, a tongue-in-cheek rant built around her unjustified hatred for the British chef. But it was the nod to 2022’s If My Wife New, I’d Be Dead that delivered the night’s most vibrant moments, with a refreshed rendition of I Don’t Really Care For You sending the crowd into a belted chorus. Just before the final refrain, the band slipped into an extended instrumental break, giving CMAT and her bandmates room for an improvised dance interlude packed with nostalgic pop-culture callbacks, from the Macarena to even a tongue-in-cheek mannequin challenge. CMAT, soaking up the applause in peak camp fashion, punctuated every scream with grandiose gestures, while the rest of the band committed fiercely to their statuesque stillness.
A brief pause between songs saw CMAT turn to the crowd to confess her love for Newcastle, declaring, “There’s no place like home.” Throughout 2025, she has made frequent returns to the city, whether supporting local hero Sam Fender at St James’ Park or reflecting on her narrow loss to him at the Mercury Prize Awards for Album of the Year. Jokes continued to land effortlessly, including a cheeky plea for a share of Fender’s Mercury Prize winnings, before she reassured the audience of her enduring affection for the man himself. There is something endlessly compelling and relatable about CMAT in her element; on stage, she embodies the modern indie-pop star, while simultaneously showcasing the chaotic warmth of the crazy aunt every family seems to have.
Later in the set, CMAT requested one simple favour from the crowd: a straightforward dance she dubs the Dunboyne Co Meath Two Step. Moments later, the entire O2 City Hall was swaying in unison as she launched into fan-favourite, I Wanna Be A Cowboy. Smiles were unavoidable, and the sense of synchrony among the audience reached its peak, transforming strangers into a collective of seemingly best friends, united by their shared adoration for the charismatic performer.
Despite her earlier plea for a single crowd participation, she revealed she had one more in mind for the evening’s finale: Stay For Something, arguably her most powerful track. Every surge of energy throughout the show seemed to build to this moment. CMAT flung her arms across the stage, delivering each lyric with raw, unfiltered emotion as she sang about her regretful lingering with past loves. By the final chorus, she had descended into the crowd, creating an intimate, electrifying connection that brought the concert to a climactic close; a performance that will surely be remembered as a landmark night in the history of O2 City Hall, Newcastle.