Cian Ducrot Lights Up Brixton Academy with Storytelling, Showmanship, and Soaring Pop Anthems
- Dave Broome
- Sep 19
- 3 min read
O2 Academy, Brixton, London - 17th September 2025
IMAGES DAVE BROOME / WORDS DAVE BROOME
Should you ask most regular concert goers for their top three venues, Brixton
Academy will often be included. With its front-to-back sloping floor, the castle façade
around the stage and the incredible list of acts who have played here. You can smell
the history (well kind of). It’s big enough to feel significant but small enough to be
intimate. Tonight, the venue hosts Irish singer-songwriter Cian Durcot who rose to
prominence in 2022 with his TikTok viral hits, All of You and I’ll be Waiting.
We are a few dates into the Dream Shop 2025 tour which will take Ducrot across the
big cities of Europe and culminates in Dublin just before Christmas.
The support act for tonight is Pedro Santos, not the Portuguese footballer but an
extremely talented singer-songwriter. Together with a selection of instantly catchy
tunes and buoyant performance, he and his band soon win over the audience. He
has released a few tracks on YouTube and they feature on the set list. “Someone I
Don’t Know” is particularly strong with its anthemic chorus, it fills the auditorium, and
he looks right at home performing here. Doors opened at 7pm and plenty have
turned up early (and got to the front) to see Pedro which bodes well for the future.
With the crowd nicely warmed up Cian Ducrot and his band arrive on stage just
before 9pm and launch into the high-energy pop track, “Who’s Making You Feel It”.
This is a great tune and a favourite of mine from his latest album, Little Dreaming. It’s
an impressive way to start the set. The album title track, “Little Dreaming” comes
next followed by “Heaven”. The band are in full swing, all the better for a small
brass section, multiple keyboards and layered voices all contributing to making an
incredibly full sound.
Ducrot is a storyteller at heart and numerous times throughout the evening shares
personal stories and details about the songs. Whether that’s relationship breakups,
personal tragedy or triumph over challenging circumstances. He is open about his
musical journey not being an easy one. This has not been an overnight success by
any means, and he shares how one evening he felt like a career in music was not
going to happen. His mum’s example of hard work, raw talent and tenacity have
brought a gradual if not instant success. From what I can see and hear, its well
deserved.
For “The Book of Love”, he brings up on stage a girl from the audience and sits next
to her on the edge of the piano. It’s a lovely moment as he sings the final part of the
song with her. His interaction with the audience throughout the show is frequent and
sincere.
The musicianship on show is impressive. Ducrot seamlessly goes from guitar to
piano to flute all in the space of a few songs. On top of that he has the most
incredible voice. The songs are the real stars of the show tonight, however. “Your
Eyes” is beautiful, “Hallelujah” is powerful and emotional and “All for You” for you is
epic by anyone’s standards. From gentle openings to theatrical crescendos, the
songs have it all. “Thank God You Stayed” included the audience like a backing
choir.
The finale was always going to be “I’ll Be Waiting” and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s a
stunning track and has everyone singing every word along with him is something to
behold and enjoy.
There is talk of Cian Ducrot being the heir apparent to Elton John. That’s praise
indeed and only time will tell whether he delivers on that, but he can write a damn
good tune and he’s a damn good showman. Every bit a worthy name to add to
Brixton’s already illustrious list of performers.
Set List:
1. Who's Making You Feel It
2. Little Dreaming
3. Heaven
4. Shalalala
5. The Book Of Love
6. Kiss And Tell
7. No Way To Live
8. Can't Even Hate You
9. What About Love
10. Hallelujah
11. Rock Bottom
12. All For You
13. Part of Me
14. Your Eyes
15. See It To Believe it
16. Thank God You Stayed
17. I'll Be Waiting
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