The Birchmere was the ideal venue recently to host instagram singing sensation Stella Cole. If you aren’t familiar with Stella Cole, she began singing on Instagram during the pandemic. Her videos caught fire and have propelled her to over 1.7 million followers across all social media platforms.
What makes her unique is the combination of her age and her chosen genre.
Stella is a 25-year-old woman who sings songs that are three times her age or more! She sings jazz and songs from musicals like My Fair Lady with the aplomb of a seasoned veteran. And she isn’t reinterpreting them. She stays faithful to the originals. Stella may be firmly rooted in the past, but that doesn’t mean that’s all there is to her. She augments a set of standards and classics with newer songs, like “My Future” by Billie Eilish.
Watch Stella Cole cover “My Future” by Billie Eilish on YouTube:
This is why The Birchmere was a great venue for Stella in her appearance there on Sept. 24. The concert hall has seen a lot in its 58 years of existence. And it has remained a constant for performers. The performers are just feet away from the audience, who are seated at tables in order to enjoy a drink or something to eat during the show. This entire night was a throwback to the way shows were done before clubs and stadiums. It was like I stepped back in time.
Stella’s band, which consists of Michael Kanan on piano, Neal Miner on double bass, and Hank Allen-Barfield on drums, entered the stage dressed to the nines, in matching black suits. Stella appeared a moment after the band started playing, wearing an elegant green dress. Everything enhanced the atmosphere of the evening.
Stella came to The Birchmere as part of a short album-release tour to celebrate her debut album. The show began with the most appropriate song ever, “I’m Old Fashioned.” Stella took time to talk about each song and why she chose it for her album. She talked about why she began singing these old songs on social media and some of her hurdles studying music, like singing to a wall because she wasn’t comfortable singing after some particularly harsh criticism.
She improvised a little when she decided to do a trilogy from My Fair Lady. At one point, she turned to the band and said “Let’s do another. I love My Fair Lady.” The band fell right into place and the trilogy was complete. This is the magic of live music.
Stella’s performance was exceptional, the audience appreciated it and let her know. She, in turn, felt the freedom to veer from the setlist. Magic. She was so comfortable with the audience that she and the band played it’s Autumn for the first time. After the show ended, they returned for an encore. It really seemed like they weren’t planning on one, but the response was so positive, they couldn’t refuse. They wrapped up the evening with “That’s All.”
I am so happy I was able to see this show. It felt the way I imagine jazz clubs in New York City felt in the 1950s. It was a rare performance — both quiet and impactful. It’s wonderful that there are up and coming artists who love and appreciate music from the past. It deserves to be kept alive and given the respect that Stella gives it. I hope she comes around again soon. If you want to see a show that will stand out in a sea of loudness, go see Stella Cole.
Setlist
- I’m Old Fashioned
- The Boy Next Door
- Walking In The Sunshine
- Happy Days Are Here Again
- (Love Is) The Tender Trap
- As Time Goes By
- I Could’ve Danced All Night
- I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face
- On The Street Where You Live
- It’s Autumn
- Moon River
- My Future
- Anything Goes
- When The Sun Comes Out
- Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Encore
- That’s All
Here are some photos of Stella Cole performing at The Birchmere on Sept. 24, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Marc Shea.
