Review: Country superstar Megan Moroney comes to Cambridge Junction

It’s not often big-name American country singers to come to Cambridge, but on Thursday, 12 September, we had three, as while rising star and 2024 CMA (Country Music Association) Award nominee Megan Money was packing them in at the Junction as part of her Georgia Girl tour, across town Little Big Town and Ashley Monroe were no doubt wowing more cowboy hat-wearing music-lovers at the Cambridge Corn Exchange.

As a fan of all three acts, it was a difficult decision to decide which show to attend, but as I’d seen country quartet Little Big Town previously, I opted for Megan Moroney, an exciting 26-year-old singer-songwriter from Georgia who has really been making waves these past couple of years.

Her stunning 2023 album, Lucky, for example, was deservedly named Best Country and Americana Album of the year by Rolling Stone magazine, no less.

And it was the storming title track of the album that kicked off tonight’s set. The song was, needless to say, very enthusiastically welcomed by the sold-out crowd (the waiting list for the gig was also full), as Megan, dressed in a sparkly blue dress and backed by four male musicians with “Emo Cowgirl Country” emblazoned on their shirts, fully owned the stage, instantly drawing in the audience with her infectious, ‘girl next door’ charisma.

The song that first made me sit up and take note of Megan Moroney, I’m Not Pretty, was played next - and it went down a storm, the crowd loudly shouting out the “bless your heart!” spoken line.

“Two things you need to know about me,” began the star afterwards, “one, I write songs, two, I have horrible taste in men.”

Looking on the bright side, she added: “The worse the guy, the better the song” - and it has to be said that heartbreak appears to suit her, professionally speaking - as of course it does Taylor Swift - as Megan Moroney writes amazing songs.

Another example of her undoubted talent came in the form of No Caller ID, off the singer’s recently-released second album, Am I Okay?, which is another outstanding collection of tunes.

“Are there any crazy girls in tonight?” asked Megan, ahead of her song Nothin’ Crazy, noting: “I knew y’all would be here” when her question was met by the inevitable cheers.

Megan spoke of the “hot guy” who inspired the heartfelt song Noah and also found room in the set for Hair Salon, a track from her 2022 EP, Pistol Made of Roses.

Happily, my favourite tune off the new album, the heartbreaking Hope You're Happy, was played, with Megan joking beforehand that the song should have a piano but that it “couldn’t fit in the overhead”.

“Similarly Vince Gill,” she added, “he’s not here” (country legend and current member of the Eagles Gill sings backing vocals on the recorded version).

Megan then appeared at the back of the stage with her back to the audience and holding a bouquet of flowers, by way of an introduction to my second favourite song off Am I Okay?, Miss Universe.

She turned around and slowly made her way to the front of the stage, eventually giving the flowers to someone in the crowd, much to their delight, I imagine (I was at the back and couldn’t see).

As mentioned, Miss Universe is a fantastic song, with brilliant lyrics about her boyfriend leaving her for the winner of a beauty pageant: “But I got a goodbye call, ’cause he found a beauty queen, I’m in a dive bar drinkin’, while she’s in a magazine. Yeah, it hurt like hell, but hell, it could’ve been worse, at least my whole world left me for Miss Universe”.

The star reflected on her musical journey, recalling the doubters who sneered at her dreams of becoming a country singer, encouraging her fans to never give up on achieving your goals - especially if it’s something for which you have a real passion.

She also spoke of the importance of loving yourself “more than any boy”, before delivering a solid rendition of her song, Girl in the Mirror.

Saving one of her very best songs until right at the end, the glorious, southern storytelling gem that is Tennessee Orange was then followed by Am I Okay?, the title track of her latest long-playing release.

I’m not sure how the other gig went down over at the Corn Exchange, but there was no doubt in my mind as I left the Junction with the sweet sound of Megan Moroney still ringing in my ears that I’d made the right decision. Hopefully, if this kind of thing ever happens again, the shows will be on different days next time!

For more on Megan Moroney, visit meganmoroney.com.