This past summer, 27-year-old folk-pop singer Noah Kahan concluded his tour “We’ll All Be Here Forever.” This tour began earlier this year in March and included 43 shows across the U.S. The last night of the tour, 38,000 fans filled Fenway Park, exceeding the average attendance at a Red Sox home game. For the remainder of the summer, Kahan focused on playing multiple festivals, including an unusual appearance at the rock festival  Sea Hear Now. 

Kahan began writing music at only eight years old. As a senior in high school, he applied to Tulane University at seventeen to pursue music, but they unfortunately deferred him. After receiving an offer to create music professionally, Kahan decided to sign with Republic Records instead of attending college. His first single “Young Blood” came out in 2017, which established his musical skills; in 2018 he crept up the charts with his song “Hurt Somebody,” featuring Julia Michaels. Kahan released his first album in June of 2019 titled “Busyhead,” and he played ten songs on the Busyhead tour which began in September of 2019. This tour generated fame around Kahan and helped people learn of him and his goals.

 “False Confidence,” a single on the “Busyhead” album, skyrocketed in streams while capturing the hearts of listeners. The single expressed Kahan’s strong feelings about mental health and led him to donate a profit of the “Busyhead” tour earnings to the Busyhead project. This project, created by Kahan and the Vermont Community Foundation, funds and provides resources to organizations specializing in mental health awareness. This project continued with Kahan as he completed various tours and shows.  

“I think his participating with the Busyhead project is wonderful. It’s amazing to see artists support causes that really matter and that can impact society. I would definitely encourage others to listen to Noah Kahan,” senior Ray McIntosh said.

Kahan continued creating music and released his second album “I was/I am”  in 2021 with 10 songs that he also decided to take on tour. The tour included 38 shows and Kahan sold out within days of tickets releasing. The “I was/I am” tour occurred right after the Covid-19 lockdown ended when every other artist struggled with racking in views.In contrast, Kahan brought thousands of fans to his show.

Kahan’s newest album “Stick Season” quickly overshadowed his second album and broke the internet. The title track song “Stick Season” struck fans all over the world, climbing to the top of billboards and capturing the attention of new fans and other artists. This rise led Kahan to his latest tour “We’ll All Be Here Forever” and provided opportunities such as featuring other artists on his remake “Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever).” With this album, Kahan teased fans with potential features on the album which kept listeners in suspense. Gracie Abrams, Kacey Musgraves, Hozier and other artists happily joined Kahan on this album. Kahan also gained features on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and other popular networks, as well as playing at festivals such as Lollapalooza and played at his dream venue, the Red Rocks Amphitheater. His latest festival performance, Sea Hear Now, surprisingly featured Kahan which shocked fans around the nation

“My favorite album of his is ‘Stick Season’ and my favorite song on there is ‘You’re Gonna Go Far.’ I believe that the entirety of the Stick Season album is amazing and makes me feel something that I can only describe as a nostalgic yearning. His work is something that I believe is special in the music industry,” McIntosh said. 

The Sea Hear Now festival first began in 2018 and has increased in popularity since. This year’s lineup spiked the interest of 35,000 fans who attended in Asbury Park, New Jersey. This annual festival features rock bands and brings in a community of fans who look forward to this festival year-round. In past years, featured artists include  Greta Van Fleet, The Smashing Pumpkins and other popular rock artists, but this year the festival picked Kahan to headline the first day. This shocked attendants, as Kahan does not create rock music, and led to a diverse audience at this year’s festival. Fans of rock music and Kahan attended this year’s festival on September 14, which led to tickets selling out. Attendees of the festival shared videos on social media platforms of Kahan at Sea Hear Now and live streams also racked up thousands of viewers. 

“I think they invited him because he’s recently risen to a lot of fame. Festivals really benefit from having him because he draws in a new audience who may have never listened to other artists before. He really deserves all the exposure he’s gotten,” magnet junior Avery Moore said.