On a weekend when the huge stages of Coachella grab the music world’s attention, there’s a refreshing intimacy about Cat Burns’ stop-off at NX Newcastle as she tours sophomore album, How To Be Human.
The 25-year-old has become somewhat of a household name after her appearance on The Celebrity Traitors last September, but Saturday night in the Toon is a celebration of Burns’ bread and butter. This is a BRIT Award nominee with a cutting pen.
The 70-minute set is a tale of heartbreak and healing, told from Burns’ living room as she gets up and down from a cosy armchair placed in the centre of the stage.
Even when hurting, the songwriting revels in a patience to allow feelings to pass. ‘Can Time Move Faster?’ comes early on and Burns gives a knowing nod on its climbing final chorus. ‘I Hope It’s Me’ follows as she comes to terms with a love-filled goodbye.
Burns shifts the night up a gear on ‘Sad Forever’, revelling in the singalong provided by the sold-out Geordie crowd. ‘I Love You, But’ follows in a similar vein – “that is such a tune,” the singer laughs afterwards.
By the time the opening tones of ‘Gemini’ begin halfway through the night, Burns is in her element and with a glimmer in her eye as she waves back at smiling faces in the crowd.
The artist is a different version of herself to the one who wrote the album. Burns blushes as she admits to now having fallen in love again – ‘When I’m With You’ and ‘Please Don’t Hate Me’ lean into the feeling of those butterflies reappearing.
The biggest hits come last as radio-ready ‘People Pleaser’ kicks off an encore. Unreleased ditty ‘Is It That Deep’ could be the star’s biggest sounding song yet.
There’s just time for Burns to throw out some Newcastle love in old Bigg Market clubs and Geordie Shore before closing on breakthrough single ‘go’. A triumphant night.
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