Noah Kahan made his Electric Picnic debut on Friday with a packed main-stage extravaganza of stomp-clap sensibilities and torch song screamers.

In a story where the underdog becomes top dog, singer-songwriter Kahan went from writing a lockdown album on his parents’ farm in rural Vermont to selling out arenas and headlining festivals. His Platinum-certified album, Stick Season, recalls the moody folk hooks of the early ‘10s tinged with Gen-Z angst and radical vulnerability. The record earned him a GRAMMY nod and solidified Kahan as one of the most successful breakout artists in recent years.

Noah Kahan at Electric Picnic 16/08/24. Copyright Liam Murphy

So it makes sense that thousands descended on the Stradbally main arena to see the New England patriot in person. Jumping on stage in his trademark plaits and hipster garb, Kahan smiled as the crowd welcomed him with ear-splitting cheers and hollers.

Noah Kahan at Electric Picnic 16/08/24. Copyright Liam Murphy

“I can’t believe I’m headlining this festival,” he remarked, revealing a bit of imposter syndrome over whether he deserved it, but nevertheless felt honoured to be on the main stage. “I got all my tricks from Irish singer-songwriters,” he says. “You guys are sad as fuck!"

The singer kicked things off with his viral hit, 'Dial Drunk', the 120 km/hr banjo banger. The song is bitingly honest, following the singer's first-person narrative, arrested for driving drunk. Desperate and unsure where to turn, he breaks down and calls his ex. Breakup songs populate much of Kahan's music, but make no mistake, the artist offers exceptionally relevant commentary in his songs, ranging from the effects of mental illness to self-medicating with head-wrecking substances.

There's a lot of hope to glean from his lyrics, too. The second song in his set, 'New Perspective', offered optimism in spades. The acoustic guitar is a perfect simple accompaniment for the lyrics, harkening as it does to the days when you didn’t always need to be plugged in, with a yearning for certitude:

Nothing’s so sure that I can’t learn to doubt it

There’s also a bit of cynical criticism about what passes to make way for progress.

The intersection got a Target,
And they’re calling it “Downtown”

On the surface, 'New Perspective' seems to be about a relationship that is experiencing some distance, but at its heart, the indie belter is more about being sideswiped by modernity.  Such are the themes that underscore much of Kahan's Stick Season, a love letter to simpler times penned in the unplugged lockdown months.

Noah Kahan at Electric Picnic 16/08/24. Copyright Liam Murphy

As such, the American folk heavyweight ended his show with the smash-hit 'Stick Season', a tune he says is understandable to be grow tired of due to its constant airplay. But judging from the fact you couldn't even hear Kahan's voice over the thousands of fans screaming every lyric word for word, the Electric Picnic - and certainly the Irish - audience are a long way off from fatigue. It was a resounding success. Despite the distance between the Northeast US and Ireland, there must be some string binding the heartfelt lyrical prowess of Kahan to such Irish folk big-names like Hozier.

Alternative folk is in a great place with people like Kahan, a music underdog who's here to stay.