Pop finds it’s edge

★★★★☆ (4/5)

**CAT BURNS PERFORMING AT LONDON’S MOTH CLUB AS PART OF BRITS WEEK FOR WARCHILD**
**PHOTOCREDIT: AARON PARSONS**

February saw the tight confines of Hackney’s Moth Club play host to platinum-selling indie popstar Cat Burns, who performed an intimate set as part of the War Child 2025 Brits showcase. Over the past 16 years, these performances have raised over £7,400,000 for children in conflict zones.

The venue seemed tailor made for Burns, who hails from Streatham, as her gospel infused indie pop felt right at home in the London institution. The assembled audience was in fine form, having been thoroughly warmed up by the impeccable vocals of Essence Martins.

As the lights dimmed, Burns took to the stage through the crowd in a fitting metaphor for her relatability. While she has found mass success through her music, she still retains a crucial down-to-earth manner through her vulnerable songwriting. Much of which can be seen in her 2024 debut “Early Twenties”. This album made up the majority of the set, while there were also tracks from her EPs and a selection of covers to round out the evening.

Her viral hits were of course the warmest received performances of the night, eliciting elation and recognition from the crowd. However, these were not the only bright spots in the set as Burns showed her strengths both as a performer and as a songwriter throughout.

While in her element in these indie-tinged venues, Burns has played gargantuan stages across the world in support of her pop alumni such as Ollie Alexander and Ed Sheeran. This well-developed stagecraft was on full display as she owned the audience's attention at all times, weaving in crowd interaction between the vocal gymnastics.

Gospel-tinged track “People Pleaser” filled every inch of the venue with a sound that was ready-made for mass sing-alongs. While latest release “Girls” brought a self-proclaimed “cheeky” track which delivered a flirtatious testament to love.

A number of covers helped to show Burns’s varied influences. The evergreen Wheatus hit “Teenage Dirtbag” traced the roots of the rockier guitar-driven songs of the night. Then Burns displayed her ability to deftly move from traditional analogue instrumentation to neon-flecked electro-pop in a cover of the steamy Artemis hit “I Like the Way You Kiss Me”.

Ending the set on her biggest hit to date, “Go” was a fitting cap to a performance that had journeyed through all aspects of love and loss.

As the tightly knit audience shuffled out, the crowd were in awe of a set that belonged on much bigger stages. No doubt further releases will see Burns go from strength to strength, buoyed by electric live performances like tonight.

These intimate performances have been part of the War Child 2025 Brits week in an effort to raise money to protect, educate, and stand up for the rights of children living through war.

You can donate at https://www.warchild.org.uk