If you weren’t crammed into Boston’s Brighton Music Hall on the night of June 4th, you missed out on an absolute icon. With tickets reselling online for upwards of $300, the anticipation for Bella Kay’s performance was intense, and she more than delivered. Looking out at the jam-packed room, she said, “I think this is the loudest crowd I have ever had,” and she wasn’t exaggerating.
The energy was so electric that picking an initial “fan favorite” was nearly impossible. The crowd belted every word of every song so loudly that their volume oven rivaled Bella’s. One highlight of the night was her cover of Rihanna’s “Stay,” a song she described as personal, recalling listening to it in the back of her parents’ car while growing up. It was the kind of cover that makes you forget you’ve heard the original a thousand times. She made it entirely her own.
When it came to her original music, a personal standout was “Say it Say” from her new EP “are you mad at me”. It was her first time performing the track live, and she absolutely crushed it, belting out high notes and proving herself as a serious vocal talent.
She isn’t just a phenomenal singer, she’s an absolute comedian with a great laugh and magnetic stage presence. She completely captivated the crowd with a hilarious bit where, speaking into a heavily auto-tuned mic, she deadpanned that she “supports artists that don’t use autotune.” This perfectly transitioned into an auto-tuned cover of Drake’s “Hotline Bling” that was genuinely phenomenal.
Her interactive moments were absolute gold. Cue the Jeopardy! thinking music: Bella brought out a jar filled with anonymous crowd confessions, judging them with a collective “yay” or “nay.” verdict.
The Nay: Still being in love with a guy who called you his cousin. The Yay: Secretly dating your best friend’s brother (which earned a massive, roaring “yay” and thumbs ups from the audience).
By the end of the night, as the crowd screamed every word to “iloveitiloveitiloveit,” it was clear why Noah Kahan selected Bella Kay as an opener for “The Great Divide” UK/Ireland Tour. Bella delivered an unforgettable night filled with incredible vocals, huge laughs, and undeniable stage presence. As the final notes faded, there was a feeling throughout the room that this may be one of the last chances to see her in a venue this size. She has the kind of energy and talent that seems destined for much bigger stages, and everyone packed into Brighton Music Hall appeared to know it.
Get your ticket to see Bella Kay live here.
