One artist on the C2C 2025 bill that I was really looking forward to seeing is Niko Moon. The 42-year-old Texan-born Country pop singer is the epitome of feel-good and he’s rarely seen without a huge smile on his face. Formerly part of Zac Brown’s side band Sir Rosevelt, Moon has been delivering nothing but sunshine-drenched vibes as a solo artist since the release of his 2020 single ‘Good Time’, which topped the US Country charts. Debut solo album ‘Good Time’ showcased Moon’s ability to write a catchy-hook and he continued to deliver the optimism and hope he’s been known for on 2024 album ‘Better Days’.
On the C2C Main Stage bill after viral up-and-comer Tanner Adell, Moon was the perfect pick for a Saturday early evening slot. On probably the poppiest night of this year’s festival, was Moon able to leave a lasting impression? Decked out in his usual attire of a beach-themed shirt, a white vest and a hat, Moon arrived on stage to kick off his set with the uptempo “Night’s Still Young”. With his trademark smile stretched from ear-to-ear, Moon bounced around the stage like an excitable puppy, delivering impressively strong vocals and plenty of good vibes in the process.
Good vibes was very much the theme of the evening and as the second act on the Main Stage at The O2 following Tanner Adell, Moon lifted the energy and really set the tone for a night packed with fantastic music and performances. The sun-drenched ‘Paradise to Me’ came next and it became clear pretty quickly that Moon’s energy wasn’t going to dip for any part of his set. His infectious energy warmed the audience up, lifting them to their feet and kick-started one hell of a party. Uptempo gems such as “Fishin’ in the Dark” and ‘Head Above the Water’ continued the feel-good vibes and it was hard not to smile along with Moon, who looked like he was having the night of his life.
A cover of Zac Brown Band’s ‘Homegrown’, a song that Moon was a writer on, lifted the energy to a whole new level. He surely knows about the UK’s love affair with Zac Brown Band so his decision to include that song in his set was a stroke of genius. ‘No Sad Songs’, which more than lives up to its title, was really the perfect way to sum up Moon’s entire set. For his final song Moon performed his number one smash ‘Good Time’, which left the audience buzzing and left this reviewer mightily impressed.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Moon. I’m familiar with his music, and some of it I’m a big fan of, but I had struggled to visualise how a show might look. After seeing his 30-minute set at C2C 2025, I’d happily part with my money to see him on his own tour, performing a longer set. When we live in times that are constantly bogged down by bad news and hard times, Moon is the artist we all need for a pick up and a brief break away from reality. His brand of feel-good is something we should all experience.
Set list: 1. Night’s Still Young 2. Paradise to Me 3. Fishin’ in the Dark 4. Head Above the Water 5. Money Can’t Buy 6. Homegrown (Zac Brown Band cover) 7. No Sad Songs 8. Good Time Venue: The O2, London Performance date: Saturday 15th March 2025
