PREVIEW: Oh baby! Soul star and new mum Kat Eaton now celebrates arrival of third album with Sheffield 'homecoming'
Soul star Kat Eaton has lots to sing and dance about after giving birth twice in TWO months.
First she welcomed into the world baby daughter Ada June, in April.
Then, at the end of May, came another labour of love – her brand new album, What Happens Now.
Now she’s taking both new arrivals on the road, for a UK and European tour including a very special ‘homecoming’.
The Sheffield-raised singer returns to Crookes Social Club on Saturday, October 3, for an album launch in the city where she cut her teeth as a teenage performer in its pubs and clubs - get tickets here.
And if her last appearance there is anything to go by, Kat can expect quite a welcome – her November 2025 Crookes show was packed to the rafters.
Kat beamed: “In April I gave birth to a little girl, Ada June, and as well as releasing new music, which has had the support of BBC radio 2 and Jazz FM, we're out on tour in UK and EU this year, with AJ in tow!”
Welsh‑born Kat’s new album, What Happens Now - listen here - is a spellbinding mix of soul, jazz, and timeless pop that captures her signature blend of warmth, groove, and lyrical depth.
It follows 2024’s Honestly and the breakout Talk To Me (2021), cementing her reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting soul artists.
Produced by long‑time collaborator Nick Atkinson, her thrd album s a deeply human record about transition, resilience, and renewal.
Sheffield-raised singer Kat has worked with Nick since they were 16 - performing in Sheffield pubs and clubs, including The Riverside, The New Barrack Tavern, The Boardwalk and Leadmill.
Their creative chemistry gives the album a rare coherence — equal parts vulnerability and confidence.
The pair recorded much of the album at their own Reason & Rhyme Studios in Dronfield, but key sessions took place at the legendary Konk Studios in London — founded by The Kinks and later used by Adele, Massive Attack, and The Bee Gees.
Surrounded by vintage instruments, from classic Wurlitzers to analogue synths and retro microphones, they crafted a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh. “Being at Konk really influenced how we approached performance and tone — every instrument had a story,” says Kat.
The album was mixed by two‑time GRAMMY‑nominated engineer James Campbell and mastered by Christian Wright at Abbey Road Studios.
What Happens Now draws from a palette of classic song-craft and contemporary soul production. The musical DNA nods to Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Sheffield’s own Joe Cocker and Donny Hathaway, balanced with modern artists like Emily King, Lianne La Havas, Yebba, and Allen Stone.
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Nick’s production foregrounds organic instrumentation — live drums, bass, guitar, real horns, and vintage keyboards — arranged for warmth and space rather than perfectionism. The performances were captured clean and immediate, favouring emotion over studio trickery.
Kat explains, “We wanted to blend the warmth of those classic records with the clarity of how people listen now. Real instruments, real voices — nothing to hide behind.”
Recognised by BBC Radio 2, 6Music, and Jazz FM, Kat has built a career on emotionally resonant songwriting and powerhouse vocals. Live, she’s shared the stage with Gregory Porter, Jools Holland, Paul Carrack, The Teskey Brothers, Marc Broussard, and Mamas Gun, captivating audiences across Europe and the UK.
With What Happens Now, she steps confidently into full independence — writing and releasing through her own label Reason & Rhyme Records — and asks the question at the heart of every artist’s journey: what happens now?
Her last show at Crookes Social Club back in November 2025 was packed to the rafters so book your tickets now to avoid disappointment.
Tickets for all dates - including Sheffield - are on sale on her web site at www.kateaton.com/tour.
2026 UK & EU Tour Dates (2027 tour dates TBA)
17.09.26 - Coughlan’s, Cork, IE
18.09.26 - Coughlan’s, Cork, IE
19.09.26 - Arthur’s Jazz & Blues Club, Dublin, IE
20.09.26 - Arthur’s Jazz & Blues Club, Dublin, IE
02.10.26 - Peggy’s Skylight, Nottingham, UK
03.10.26 - Crookes Social Club, Sheffield, UK
30.10.26 - Fasching, Stockholm, SE
02.11.26 - Porgy & Bess, Vienna, AT
03.11.26 - Unterfarht Jazz Club, Munich, DE
04.11.26 - Aalen Jazz Festival, Aalen, DE
11.11.26 - A Trane, Berlin, DE
12.11.26 - A Trane, Berlin, DE
13.11.26 - Nica, Hamburg, DE
02.12.16 - New Morning, Paris, FR