In January 2025 I witnessed CMAT play a sold out show at The Factory Theatre in Sydney, which ended up becoming one of my favourite shows of the year because of her undeniably infectious energy, incredible live band, and hilarious banter. And 12 months later I’m back to standing at a sold out CMAT show in Sydney, but this time it’s at Enmore Theatre, and the first of two sold out nights there. And by the end of the show I was already claiming it as one of the best shows of 2026 because she had me uncontrollably smiling, laughing, and singing for nearly 2 hours straight. 

Celebrating the release of her 2025 album “EURO-COUNTRY”, this show felt like a pure hit of euphoria. Surprising the crowd by opening the show from the balcony with “Janis Joplining”, she posed and soaked in all the screams from the excited crowd. Running down to the stage, she launched straight into “The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station” before giving the crowd some older favourites with “I Don’t Really Care For You”, “Aw, Shoot!”, “When A Good Man Cries” and “Have Fun!”. The live versions of all these songs are so intoxicating and brilliant as “the very sexy CMAT band” (her words!) bring such an energy and even breakout into random choreographed dances with CMAT. In-between songs she is as hilarious as ever, and it feels like you’re also witnessing a stand-up comedy show with her quick wit. 

“Take A Sexy Picture Of Me” is the big loud singalong moment that you expect from this show, with everyone doing the viral TikTok dance along with her. After introducing each band member she performed “Where Are Your Kids Tonight?” with her keyboardist before ending the show with a powerful rendition of “Running/Planning”. But let’s be honest, that wasn’t the end. Returning to the stage for “EURO-COUNTRY”, and “I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby!”, she then closed out the show properly with “Stay For Something”. Getting the crowd to seperate the space in the middle of the floor, she ran down to dance with everyone for one final chorus before doing a shoey and saying good night for real. 

Leaving the venue and walking down Enmore Road, you could just feel the legitimate buzzing from the crowd from how brilliant that show was. And then down at the lights across from Newtown Station I hear a roaring of screaming and applause and I look to my left and CMAT is driving down the street with her head out the window waving to everyone walking down the street like she’s the queen of Newtown, and honestly… for that night she was!

Check out the full gallery of CMAT and Holiday Sidewinder captured by Sophie Hill BELOW:

Photos by Sophie Hill
Review by Thomas Bleach