Fresh off her recent album release Aftercare, Nessa Barrett’s Aftercare World Tour made its second stop in the windy city at one of Chicago’s newer venues, The Salt Shed. With a line wrapped around the massive venue, fans of the TikTok turned pop star came in droves and powered through the chilly temperatures as they awaited for the doors to open. First off, The Salt Shed is probably one of my favorite venues i’ve shot at. Featuring both indoor and outdoor stages, for the warmer days, the once Morton Salt building turned music venue has become a staple in the Chicago Music Scene.
To kick off the night was up-and-coming artist Ari Abdul. Ari is a a young talented singer from Brooklyn, NY who’s been active in the industry for only a couple years now but has been rising rapidly with tours in North America and Europe with also a spot in Chicago’s Lollapalooza back in 2023. With inspiration drawing from Billie Eilish it’s no wonder where she gets her style from as the young artist boasts blends of elements of pop, R&B, and alternative influences, creating a unique and edgy sound. Her music often features atmospheric, moody production with catchy, yet introspective lyrics. Ending her set with her hit that blew up all over TikTok, “Babydoll,” Ari definitely got the crowd warmed up for the main event, Nessa Barrett.
Like Ari, Nessa was also discovered on the social platform TikTok back in 2020 which led her to getting signed by Warner Records. This has led to the young artist’s second album release, along with two EP’s, with the company with the first being Young Forever and the most recent Aftercare. With the lights dimmed, Nessa Barrett’s backup musicians took the stage, which then turned to pulsing white lights, where the singer took the stage in a short, sexy black dress and heels.
Nessa showed off her endurance playing a massive 20 plus song setlist featuring hits off both her albums and EP’s such as, “Pornstar,” “Babydoll,” and “Scare Myself.” Having been the second time I’ve seen Nessa performed, I’d say she brought just as much passion and energy as the first, constantly working the crowd with a voice that has a soft, yet powerful delivery that feels intimate, as though she’s speaking directly to the listener. With amazing lighting and background images of what appears to be behind the scenes of the making of her album and videos, the Aftercare World Tour deliveredto Nessa’s loyal Chicago fans who sold out the venue.
With remaining stops in the US, South America, Canada and Europe, be sure to check out Nessa Barrett at one of her upcoming shows here!
GALLERY: Nessa Barrett and Ari Abdul at The Salt Shed in Chicago (February 6, 2025)
