From Earthstar Mountain to Madison: Hannah Cohen Sets the Night
On a gray afternoon at Breese Stevens Field in Madison, Wisconsin, Hannah Cohen and her band opened for Alabama Shakes with a set that felt thoughtful and deeply sincere. Her songs settled naturally into the space, opening hearts and welcoming everyone into what would become a magnificent night of music.
Born in San Francisco and now based in New York, Cohen has been touring extensively in support of her 2025 album, Earthstar Mountain, a record I’ve become a huge fan of. She also released a new single, “Golden Chain,” earlier this year. There’s a hazy, ’70s sensibility woven throughout Earthstar Mountain, with shades of Stevie Nicks that give the album a timeless, almost celestial quality. My favorite track, “Draggin” was a highlight of the set, but hearing it live revealed something even more special. Cohen’s vocal bursts would suddenly stray beautifully from the original recording, stretching into unexpected places and giving the song a sense of discovery that only happens in a live setting.
At the beginning of the set, Cohen mentioned that her father grew up in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, giving her introduction to the Madison crowd a small but meaningful personal connection. It was a simple moment, but one that made the distance between artist and audience feel a little smaller.
There is a lo-fi intimacy to Cohen’s music, built around atmospheric melodies and vocals that feel tender and vulnerable while somehow remaining confident and strong. Her voice is ethereal and deeply expressive, carrying a quiet emotional weight that lingers long after each song ends. Rather than demanding attention, she draws you in.
Cohen, who was once a model, has an undeniable elegance and presence, but it is the honesty, storytelling and infectious melodies within her songs that ultimately hold the room. There is something unguarded about her delivery, a sense that the songs are being shared rather than simply performed.
As she continues touring with Alabama Shakes, Cohen feels like a remarkably natural pairing. Her atmospheric, slow-burning songs set a warm and introspective tone for the evening, making her a perfect musical companion to Alabama Shakes and a memorable beginning to the night.
Find more information here: https://www.thehannahcohen.com
Words & Photography by Robert Freeman @robbie_freeman