Sheffield singer Kat Eaton goes back to her teenage roots with gig at city's Yellow Arch Studios

Sheffield-raised singer Kat Eaton, riding high after appearing with Jools Holland, is getting back to her musical roots in her next city show.
Sheffield-born singer Kat EatonSheffield-born singer Kat Eaton
Sheffield-born singer Kat Eaton

Kat is one of the support artists on the current Jools Holland and the Rhythm and Blues Orchestra tour, which included a show at Sheffield City Hall earlier this month.

It was her first gig performing at the venue where she has been to see many acts herself.

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She said: “It’s such an iconic venue. Me and my husband Nick (Atkinson, guitarist) have been working and writing together for many years.

“We both loved that venue and really wanted to play there.

“It’s a bit of a moment to be standing on that stage and doing it together.”

Kat and Nick were introduced to Jools Holland by his star singer Ruby Turner, who has worked with them before.

She said Jools Holland was very friendly and approachable when they met backstage at one of his gigs.

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It turns out that they have mutual friends with Jools’ guitarist Mark Flanagan – Sheffield blues guitar legend Frank White and his famous nephew, Richard Hawley.

Kat said: “We’re still in touch with Frank a lot and we’re hugely inspired by him.

“We listened to him and went to all his gigs.

“I did a gig when he was on the waterfront with a small school choir when I was about 11.

“I thought, ‘this is the music I want to do’. I was singing some silly pop song and just watched him.”

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She went with her dad to watch Frank several times at the Pheasant Inn at Sheffield Lane Top where he had a long-running residency.

Kat has fond memories of Yellow Arch Studios in Neepsend, where she is performing with her band on November 27.

Aged 16, she was approached by fellow Silverdale School pupil Nick, now her husband, to be in a band, Badge. They took part in and won a Battle of the Bands contest.

The prize was a recording session at Yellow Arch. That was 16 years ago.

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Kat said: “We did our first EP there and I’ve still got copies of that. I’m going to take them to the gig.”

The band will be joined on stage by Badge piano player Joe Glossop.

Kat has released a new single, Barricade, that she wrote with musician and producer Andy Platts, known for being in bands Mamas Gun and Young Gun Silver Fox.

She’s currently back in the recording studio working on the rest of her debut album, which is due out next spring.

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The smoky-voiced singer said: “I’ve always been inspired by the greats like Aretha Franklin and Amy Winehouse.

“On these songs particularly I wanted to describe a certain moment in time.

“Barricade is about that split second when you wake up and somebody’s left you and you have to just get yourself together and move on, albeit with your barricade around you.”

She added: “We wrote it in Andy Platt’s studio. It was a really fun session.

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“Like many of the inspirational people I’ve been listening to, I’m mainly trying to find my own voice.”

For tickets to the November 27 show at the Burton Street venue, go to Kat’s website, kateaton.com