On Saturday 5th November, singer-songwriter Robin Skinner, better known as Cavetown, performed his biggest show yet at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London. With an audience of over 5,000, Robin did not disappoint a day after releasing his latest full-length album, Worm Food. 

 

Supported by Sidney Gish and Orla Gartland, the performance marked the first of three UK shows on Robin's current EU + UK tour. Cavetown opened his set accompanied by Orla Gartland on the song 'fall in love with a girl', after which he greeted the crowd, seemingly in awe with the side of the crowd. He followed his opener with two of his most popular songs, 'Lemon Boy' and ‘Green’. Cavetown evoked cheers and energetic sing-alongs from the first song and the energy never let up. 

 

Cavetown rose to fame as an indie and bedroom pop artist releasing music on YouTube. He has built a strong following among teens and young people, an age demographic that was clearly evident at the show. Cavetown has also become an icon of sorts for trans and queer people, particularly after coming out as transgender in 2020. A large part of Cavetown’s appeal is rooted in his peer-like interaction with his fans, something that became evident throughout the show. 

 

Taking time between songs in order to repeatedly thank the crowd and check in with the standing audience to make sure everybody was doing alright, Cavetown had an easily charismatic persona onstage. Between wearing a knit frog hat thrown onstage from the audience as he performed his latest single ‘Frog’ to leaping around the stage wearing pride flags, the energy at the concert was extremely high.  

This Is Local London: Cavetown performing on stage Cavetown performing on stage (Image: Una Wachter)

His appreciation for his fans was clearly reciprocated, as many sang along to hits ‘Juliet’ and ‘Boys will be Bugs’ as well as some of his less well known songs such as ‘Sharpener’ and ‘Telescope’. Perhaps the most enthusiastically greeted song, however, was one of his earliest and most beloved songs, ‘Home’. The song contains lyrics dealing with topics like gender dysphoria and anxiety. Cavetown introduced it by joking that “everyone who even knows this song hates it, and, like, leaves the venue as soon as we start playing it”. Greeted by cheers from the crowd, it was easy to understand how Cavetown has become a beloved artist as he hopped across the stage waving a trans pride flag borrowed from the audience and allowing fans to fill in the most emotive lyrics. 

 

Closing with an encore of one of his earliest hits ‘Devil Town’ and a surprising burst of red and white confetti, Cavetown left the entire theatre buzzing, with fans crowding the merch booths on the way out to score a memento from the evening. Cavetown’s biggest talent may not be his musicianship, but his ability to connect with his fans, communicating with them with a level of intimacy usually reserved for good friends. The day after the concert Cavetown Tweeted:  “last night i played the biggest show of my life and today im in a costa with eye crusties in my pyjamas”

 

Cavetown’s EU + UK tour will continue with shows in Dublin and Belfast.


For more information visit: https://uk.cave.town/