Concert Review: Madison Cunningham Takes the Stage

Madison Cunningham performing at Leader Bank Pavilion. All images courtesy of Abigail Blascovich.

On the evening of September 22nd, Madison Cunningham took the stage at Leader Bank Pavilion, opening for Hozier on his Unreal, Unearth Tour. Donning an electric guitar and a fringed black jacket reminiscent of something Stevie Nicks would have worn in the 70’s, Cunningham set the deep, folksy vibe of the evening perfectly, performing a setlist of hits off of her latest album, Revealer, for which she took home the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album in 2022. 

The songs on Revealer are deeply confessional (hence the name of the album) and the audience clearly connected with Cunningham’s powerful lyrics. The crowd at Leader Bank may not have been particularly raucous, but was incredibly attentive as Cunningham took the stage and began performing. The crowd remained seated through her set, eyes locked on Madison as they hung on to her every note and nodded along to the lyrics as her pristine vocals soared through the venue. Throughout the set, Cunningham’s performance prompted delighted reactions from audience members who, even if they hadn’t come to see her specifically, had discovered a new favorite. 

For forty-five minutes, the crowd was delighted by song after song, and when Cunningham performed “Hospital,” the lead single off of Revealer, she earned a roar of well-deserved cheers from the crowd that were audible from outside the venue. When Cunningham finally left the stage, it was to massive applause. 

Cunningham is supporting Hozier through November 4th, where she will take the stage at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Fans in New York, Austin, Seattle, and Los Angeles will also be able to catch her on several headlining dates of her own throughout the remainder of the Unreal, Unearth tour, where she’ll be supported by Storefront Church. She will also take the stage at the iconic Austin City Limits music festival in October, and starting in March of 2024, she’ll be opening for John Mayer when he takes the Solo tour to Europe. 

Cunningham’s rock-folk sound and electrifying stage presence have cemented her as a young new performer to watch out for, and as we look at her upcoming lineup of exciting tour dates, those of us in Boston will be beyond excited to see her back at Leader Bank Pavilion.

CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS OF MADISON CUNNINGHAM, COURTESY OF ABIGAIL BLASCOVICH, HERE.