Joshua Idehen | Kate Ireland
The Phoenix, Exeter
15th April 2026
Photography by Ava Manthorpe
Ava Manthorpe
I’m a concert photographer and writer from Brighton. I love cats coffee and cameras.
Along with his debut solo album, Joshua Idehen takes over Exeter’s phoenix for a joyous celebration, with support from Kate Ireland
In an era where the boundary between performance art and electronic music continues to blur, Joshua Idehen’s appearance at a sold out Exeter Phoenix served as a definitive case study in the power of the spoken word. Touring his debut solo LP, ‘I know you’re hurting, everyone is hurting, everyone is trying, you have got to try,’ Idehen demonstrated a remarkable ability to pivot between the rhythmic precision of high-tempo house and the raw, unvarnished intimacy of a poetry slam.
The evening’s momentum began with support act Kate Ireland. Drawing a crowd that filled the room early, Kate established an immediate, effortless bond with the audience. Her set was a rollercoaster of emotions, expertly balancing sharp, observational humor with poignant vulnerability. Whether she was engaging in spirited banter with the crowd or performing deeply emotive poems that left many in tears, her presence was both radiant and profoundly relatable.
The true testament to Kate’s professionalism came during a mid set technical failure when her batteries died, silencing her backing tracks. While such a mishap might have derailed a less adept performer, she dealt with it well. She brought her father on stage to assist with the repair to a chorus of cheers, transforming a potential “dead air” moment into a communal highlight.
She kept the energy high by polling the crowd on their favorite reality TV shows, using the impromptu conversation as a seamless bridge into her next poem. Her ability to maintain such a beautiful, radiant energy under pressure proved exactly why she was the perfect counterpart to Idehen. By the time her set concluded, the room was not just warmed up, but fully connected, setting a high bar for the rest of the night.
When Joshua Idehen took the stage, barefoot and dressed in grey trousers and a shirt, he arrived like walking ray of sunshine. After an initial burst of applause, he jokingly insisted the crowd pretend he was Dolly Parton for a second entrance, immediately establishing a lighthearted, interactive connection.
What followed was a lush blend of jazz and gospel notes woven into a setlist characterised by intensity and kinetic restlessness. Idehen has a rare ability to make a crowded room feel like a private conversation. Between tracks, his banter was witty and self deprecating, grounding the heavy emotional weight of his lyrics with a sense of shared humanity.
While Idehen is the heart of the show, the performance draws its pulse from his DJ and collaborator, Ludvig Parment. Parment’s deep, sub-heavy basslines and intricate rhythmic patterns provide the physical gravity that keeps the audience moving. The set featured brilliant moments of performance art, such as Idehen donning a sports headband to act as a personal trainer during the track ‘Don’t Let It Get You Down’. In a particularly moving moment, he instructed the audience to shake hands with a stranger and say, “You are good,” before joining the crowd to do the same and the room was buzzing with genuine connection.
Drawing from his background with groups such as The Comet Is Coming and Sons of Kemet, Idehen’s timing is impeccable, treating his voice like a percussion instrument. He isn’t afraid to look uncool in pursuit of truth, discussing fear and failure with refreshing honesty. His lyrics make the listener feel truly seen and heard.
The night concluded on a note of advocacy and kindness. Before the end, Idehen shared that proceeds from his limited design shirts featuring lyrics from ‘Choose Yourself’, would go toward Palestinian relief. After leaving the stage to echoing cheers, he returned for a powerful encore of this very song.
It was a beautifully put-together night that proved, above all else, the enduring power of kindness and love.
Listen to Joshua Idehen’s debut solo album here:
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