Photo + Words: Felix Hick

Irish singer CMAT and her sensational band brought the EURO COUNTRY tour to Yorkshire on Saturday night, taking over TK Maxx presents Scarborough Open Air Theatre.

Before CMAT took to the stage, the audience were treated to a captivating support set from Katy J Pearson. Blending elements of indie pop, country, and folk, Pearson’s effortless and relaxed stage presence provided a perfect and seamless introduction to the night. The crowd member standing next to me even said ‘you can see why she is the opener’ after hearing her infectious melodies and heartwarming stage presence. 

The seaside venue was packed with devoted fans, many sparkling in glittery hats, feather boas, and cowboy boots. Welcoming the pop powerhouse, who treated the crowd with a two-hour set full of fan favourites from across all three CMAT albums. 

From the moment CMAT stepped onto the stage, her infectious energy and charisma erupted and brought smiles all throughout the crowd. CMAT’s humour and wit is a vital part of the performance, it presents her in an unserious manner that instantly makes her likeable, never taking herself too seriously, she effortlessly balanced heartfelt interactions with comedy. 

Whether it was jokingly stretching on stage, comical facial expressions, or coming out with perfectly timed one-liners, she showed Scarborough that she is a born entertainer by creating a show that felt both intimate and hilarious. The fun continued as she regularly interacted with the crowd mid-performance, creating genuine moments of connection that made everyone feel a part of the show. Her warmth and gratitude shone through in every interaction, which made clear she was truly appreciative of everyone who had come to see her. 

Halfway through the night it was time for CMAT to introduce ‘The very sexy CMAT band’ as the singer gave every member their own iconic space to show themselves off! Guitarist Jack Wolter and keyboard player Colm Conlan (Puca) were among the exceptional musicians who elevated the performance massively. Having graced some major venues, including Glastonbury, the band played with confidence, precision, and infectious enthusiasm, coming together to create a dynamic and vibrant stage presence. 

Audience participation furthered when there was a request section of the show. After seeing a few cheerful fans wearing T-shirts dedicated to the song, CMAT performed Rodney for the first time in four years, as one of the earliest songs she ever wrote, the performance felt especially meaningful, ending with CMAT being gifted one of the handmade T-shirts as a keepsake for the night. 

One of the evening’s most memorable moments came when Monty Deer, a young fan from Hartlepool, was invited on stage to join CMAT and the band for a performance of EURO-COUNTRY. The touching interaction instantly won over the audience, and by the end of the song the entire venue was chanting his name. 

Closing the night with fan favourite Stay For Something, CMAT spent much of the song in the crowd, she danced and sang alongside fans before transforming the venue into her own makeshift catwalk, greeting as many people as she possibly could. It was the perfect intimate ending to a performance built on humour, heart and an undeniable connection between artist and audience, definitely one that left Scarborough smiling long after the end.