This past Tuesday night, English singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone kicked off her first ever USA headlining tour at New York City’s Webster Hall.
Indie folk singer Allison Ponthier kicked off the night, showcasing her unique lyrical style and Texas roots. After posting her music on TikTok and appearing on Lord Huron’s 2021 album, the young artist has quickly risen to prominence and won over the audience with her genuine songwriting and beautiful lyrics. She played songs from both of her EPs and had the crowd sufficiently excited for the headliner.
The highly anticipated headliner entered the stage to a sold-out crowd of excited fans and a backdrop of a huge black tapestry covered in signatories of her devoted fanbase. Holly Humberstone kept the show intimate – she was accompanied only by her guitar, keyboard, and a very talented drummer. The first song she played – 2020’s “Vanilla”, is a wistful tune about a relationship that had gone stale over time. Before each track, Holly would give a preamble explaining what each song was about and what it meant to her. A moment that stood out was before “Scarlett,” a song for her best friend who was going through a rough break up. “It really upset me to see her feeling rubbish about herself, so I wrote her a song to try to make her feel better” the artist said, creating a welcoming air of friendship that surrounded her and the audience. She finished off the set with “The Walls are Way Too Thin”, a personal favorite and one of her most popular songs which tells the story of the songwriter dealing with romance, intimacy, missed connections, and disappearing into the darkness rather than finding the energy to fight. She thanked the audience yet again and promised to be back soon before bidding us all goodnight.
Photos and words by Susie McKeon.
Be sure to catch Holly Humberstone in a city near you!
Keep up with Allison Ponthier: Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // TikTok
Keep up with Holly Humberstone: Instagram // Twitter // Facebook // TikTok
