Who is Noah Kahan?
Noah Kahan, a 26-year-old singer song writer who has been taking the world by storm. Born in Strafford Vermont Kahan began writing songs at just 8 years old. He has been playing music in Boston since he was 18 and today his lives in Watertown, just outside of Boston, when not on tour. In 2017 he signed with Republic Records and released two singles “Young Blood” and “Hurt Somebody” ahead of his debut album Busyhead which was released in 2019.
Kahan’s major commercial break through came in 2022 when he released the song “Stick Season” teasing his upcoming album of the same name. The song quickly became a viral sensation on TikTok. In late 2022 Kahan released the full Stick Season album, the album includes 10 songs he wrote during the pandemic lock downs, when he moved back home to Vermont. In 2023 Kahan kicked off the Stick Season tour, selling out legendary venues like Radio City Music Hall in New York and Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. This year he released an extended version of the Stick Season album and he currently has over 16 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
What kind of music does Noah Kahan play?
Kahan’s early releases would likely be classified as more pop or alternative pop. But with his 2022 release of Stick Season Kahan landed in the folk rock and folk pop genre. Kahan’s songs have consistently gone viral on apps like TikTok and he has created a unique sound that is all his own.
A stadium full of teenage girls and young women belting out lyrics is not an image many would associate with the folk genre, but Kahan has broken outside standard rules and conventions. He has given himself the freedom to experiment and expand the meaning of being a folk artist.
Why do people love Noah Kahan?
Much of Kahan’s popularity can be attributed to his authentic, relatable lyrics. Some songs speak directly to his New England roots, the COVID-19 pandemic and his own struggles with anxiety and depression. Kahan regularly speaks about mental health and even makes specific references to therapy and anti-depressants in his lyrics.
His unique style of folk music allows him to dig into dark, heavy topics around mental health, loneliness and fear or failure, but that unique style of his keeps it upbeat and catchy. This allows him to really connect with his young audience on their lowest of lows in a way that makes them feel like they are not alone and that gives them hope and joy.
Kahan’s honest music found its audience at the right time in the right place. Recent studies have found that mental health struggles, specifically among teenage girls and young women, have reached alarming rates in the past 3 years since the start of the pandemic. And almost 50% of TikTok’s audience is under the age of 30 and has a 2:1 female to male gender ratio. It is no wonder Kahan’s music found so much viral success on the app. The vulnerability in Kahan’s music gives words to emotions so many in his audience struggle to express.
Where is Noah Kahan currently touring?
Kahan’s 2023 Stick Season tour is wrapping up. Local highlights included a performance at Boston Calling where he drew the largest crowd in the 10-year history of the festival. The festival had an impressive lineup of headliners including The Lumineers, Foo Fighters, Alanis Morissette and Paramore, but it was Kahan who topped headlines, earning high praise from fans and media alike.
On September 9, Kahan played a sold-out show at the Mansfield, Massachusetts Xfinity Center, a venue that houses nearly 20,000 fans. Despite the dreary weather, hours of traffic getting to the venue and Kahan suffering from a cold the show was nothing short of magical. With Kahan and his band coming back out to do a 3-song encore, closing the night with a New England fan favorite “Homesick.”
The 2023 Stick Season tour has a few more stops in the US including Nashville, Tennessee and Austin, Texas, before Stick Season heads to Europe to finish the tour. Find tickets for remaining shows here.
When will Noah Kahan perform in Boston?
On Wednesday September 20 Kahan announced the 2024 “We’ll All Be Here Forever” tour. He will be ending the tour at iconic Fenway Park. The initial announcement only included one date, Saturday July 19, 2024. But just 6 days after announcing the tour, 6 additional shows were added, including a second Fenway Park show on Friday July 18, 2024.
Fenway holds nearly 40,000 fans for concerts, double what Xfinity Center holds and with two shows, Kahan can expect to play to nearly 80,000 fans in Boston next summer!
How to get tickets to see Noah Kahan at Fenway Park?
Pre-sale for selected registered fans go on sale Wednesday September 27 and tickets will go on sale for the general public Friday September 29 at 10am ET. Fans who do not get a code for Wednesday’s will have to wait until Friday. Get all the details and signup to get notifications of ticket sales here.