The New England native is only the fourth inductee, joining Billy Joel, Paul McCartney and Zac Brown Band in the hall of fame
Credit: Christopher Polk / @polkimaging
NEED TO KNOW
- Noah Kahan is the first-ever performer to sell out four nights at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.
- On night four of his Fenway run, Kahan’s mom called in during his phone call segment to share the news of his induction into the Fenway Music Hall of Fame
- Kahan’s The Great Divide World Tour continues through December, hitting more U.S. states, as well as Australian and European cities
Noah Kahan is making New England proud.
The “Stick Season” singer-songwriter, 29, became the first-ever artist to sell out four nights at Fenway Park in Boston this past weekend as parto f his The Great Divide World Tour. And he was met with quite the surprise in the middle of his last show on Saturday, July 11.
When Kahan picked up the payphone to perform his usual phone call segment, his mom, Lauri Berkenkamp, was on the line to announce that he’d been inducted into the Fenway Music Hall of Fame.
“I can’t believe you’re the only artist to ever sell out four consecutive nights at Fenway Park, but I’m not surprised. I knew you could do it, I’ve known all along,” she said in the pre-recorded message to the singer, who played for more than 150,000 fans in Boston over the weekend. “I also have some news to share. On behalf of Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox, you are officially being inducted into the Fenway Music Hall of Fame!”
“Thanks, Mom! Thank you, Fenway,” Kahan — who released his acclaimed fourth LP, The Great Divide, in April — said before heading back onstage to perform “She Calls Me Back.”
Credit: Christopher Polk / @polkimaging
Kahan is only the fourth music act to be inducted into the Fenway Music Hall of Fame, following Billy Joel, Paul McCartney and Zac Brown Band. And he has a personal connection to the venue.
“Every single crowd, it feels like I’m playing for my family for real,” Kahan said in the middle of his night-three performance. “In my heart, I feel like I’m playing for the people that made my career happen. I do believe New England is the only reason I am where I am.”
Kahan grew up on a tree farm in the small town of Strafford, Vermont, and spent several years living in Boston in the early years of his career. Some of his most popular songs — including “Stick Season,” “Maine” and “Homesick” — reference his beloved New England roots.
Yet it turns out Kahan wasn’t always aware of which states make up New England. On night three of his Fenway run, the Grammy nominee took a break from singing to issue an apology: “When I grew up, I was told Connecticut was not part of New England and I…I have been told by the CIA and the people who planted me in the industry that I need to tell you all that Connecticut is part of New England, and I’m very sorry!”
Credit: Christopher Polk / @polkimaging
“So, anyone here from Connecticut, as long as you’re not supporting the f—ing Yankees or the Jets, you’re good,” Kahan continued. “And if you are from that part of Connecticut, I’d just be quiet because some people here might f—ing tear your head off.”
Following his mention of the New York sports teams, the entire venue broke out in “Yankees suck!”
So far in the tour, Kahan has connected each of his phone call skits to the city he’s performing in — and Boston was no different. Before getting the exciting call from his mom on night four at Fenway, Kahan spoke to New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye on night one, Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz on night two and former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski on night three.
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“I wanted to pop in to congratulate you on an epic, historic, four sold out nights at Fenway Park,” said Gronkowski. Finishing his message with: “GO CRAZY BOSTON! SPIKE THE MIC!”
Upcoming stops on Kahan’s The Great Divide World Tour include two nights at Wrigley Field in Chicago and two nights at Citi Field in New York City before he heads overseas for dates in Europe and Australia.
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