Noah Kahan’s “We’ll All Be Here Forever” arena tour has been a sensation across North America, following the rocketing success of his 2022 album Stick Season. The tour made its way through Canada, finally landing in Montreal this past weekend at the Bell Centre.
The evening commenced with Jensen McRae, whose soulful folk-pop set, accompanied by her acoustic guitar, keyboardist, and electric guitarist, set an intimate tone for the crowd. Taking the stage with a salute, the Vermont native kicked off his set with a trio of anthemic stomp-clap folk hits: “Dial Drunk,” “New Perspective,” and “Everywhere, Everything,” juxtaposing catchy melodies with introspective lyrics of longing and angst.
During his performance of “Godlight,” a poignant track about the emotional toll of touring, Noah lamented about being just three hours away from his Vermont home. “It’s tough being this close to home without being able to return… I miss my folks and my family.”
Throughout the concert, Noah delivered a deeply emotive performance, delving into themes of love, loss, addiction, mental health, personal flaws, and complex family dynamics. Despite the darker topics, he maintained a lighthearted and goofy banter with the audience, interacting as if we were all friends sharing stories at a bar. “I just wanna take a moment to shout out to everyone here whose parents have divorced… it wasn’t your fault – it was your dad’s!” he quipped, introducing “All My Love,” a moment that had the entire crowd on their feet, clapping along.
Transitioning to the B-stage at the back of the arena, Noah treated the audience to an intimate solo acoustic performance of “Growing Sideways” and teased the unreleased track “The Great Divide,” before returning to the main stage with the spirited “Northern Attitude.”
For the encore, Noah reappeared wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey, ending the night with “The View Between Villages” and his biggest hit, “Stick Season.” From the maple leaf-shaped confetti that rained over the crowd as Noah bid Montreal farewell, to the hockey jersey, to his references of a bleak and cold winter in his lyrics, Noah and his music deeply resonate with his Canadian fans, who completely sold out his Canadian tour dates. For those who missed out, fear not – Noah will return to headline Osheaga for another unforgettable performance.
Photos by Serena Yang
