Pop star Skye Newman began a record-breaking five-gig run at Brixton Academy on Thursday, becoming a record for a British female solo artist at the south London venue.
Skye Newman Begins Record-Setting Residency at Brixton Academy
- Skye Newman kicked off her record-setting five-gig residency at Brixton Academy on Thursday.
- The BBC Sound of 2026 winner surpasses Little Simz, who previously headlined three nights at the venue in 2021.
- Newman insists on an all-female backing band on stage and will join Harry Styles in Australia next month for a series of support slots.
A Record-Breaking Brixton Run
The BBC Sound of 2026 winner takes the crown from rapper Little Simz, who headlined three nights at the legendary south London venue in 2021, BBC News reported. The milestone caps a rapid ascent for the 23-year-old Brit Award nominee, who performed at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sunderland last month.
Speaking to BBC News Mark Savage ahead of the opening night, Newman described the achievement as surreal. “It’s crazy. My jaw drops all the time. I feel honoured to be the first woman, and I don’t take it lightly,” she told BBC News.
Born in south-east London, Newman broke out last year when her debut single, Hairdresser, went straight into the top 20. Her follow-up track, Family Matters, reached number five in June. BBC News said that this was the first time a female artist reached the top 20 with their first two singles since Ella Henderson in 2014.
Newman Insists on Using an All-Female Backing Band
Across three gigs this weekend, an added show next week, and the opening night, Newman will lead the way for UK female solo stars at the historic venue. Other notable acts to hold big Brixton residencies include Debby Harry, Romy Croft, Phoebe Bridgers, Chappell Roan, and Tash Sultana.
Newman insists on bringing an all-female band on stage for every performance. “Women are the centre of my world,” she said. “They’re the people that built me. They allowed me space to grow and find myself. So, I definitely had to take that out on stage with me.”
She added that social media pressures influenced her decision. “I had to stand by what I stand by. It’s quite scary at the minute how much social media is [affecting how women are being treated] so I’m just really big on trying to keep women everywhere,” she told BBC News.
Honouring Amy Winehouse and Heading to Australia
Newman recently paid tribute to another soulful London singer who graced Brixton Academy back in 2007. She performed a rendition of Amy Winehouse’s song Addicted during a special Back to Black anniversary gig for the BBC.
“The thing with Amy’s music is it’s so incredible that you don’t want to touch it,” she admitted to BBC News. “No-one would ever do it like Amy, and I think it was definitely scary for all of us… that feeling of, you’ve got to live up to that expectation. You’ve got to fill her shoes, and they’re big shoes to fill,” Newman said.
Next month, Newman travels to Australia with Harry Styles for a series of support slots. The childhood One Direction fan admitted she agreed to the tour immediately. “‘Whatever I’ve got, cancel it,’ she told her team,” according to BBC News.
“It felt like a dream because I was the age of One Direction [fans], so that was around when I was a child and obviously I loved them and Harry and Zane were my favourites,” she told BBC News. “So then now to go and support Harry Styles is just mental.”
