Robbie Williams Surprises CMAT with Guest Appearance at Bilbao BBK Live 2026

Having just headlined the festival’s main stage earlier that evening, Robbie Williams unexpectedly joined CMAT onstage during her set on the festival’s second day.

Towards the close of her late‑night performance on the Repsol stage, the Dublin‑born singer quipped that “The A in CMAT stands for, ‘And through it all…’” before prompting the audience to sing along to Williams’ classic “Angels.” As the song concluded, Williams sprinted onto the stage, eliciting thunderous applause, and embraced CMAT, remarking that “It appeared orchestrated, but it truly wasn’t.”

During the remainder of the set, CMAT – whose given name is Ciara Mary‑Alice Thompson – alluded to Olivia Rodrigo’s recent rendition of her track “When A Good Man Cries” on BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge, introducing the song by declaring, “Thank you, Olivia Rodrigo; she’s my best friend.”

When Rodrigo performed the cover, which appears on CMAT’s critically acclaimed third album “Euro‑Country,” she lauded the Irish artist as “an extraordinary, singular songwriter,” adding, “I believe no one writes songs like she does at the moment; she is a powerful force, and I hope I did justice to her remarkable voice.”

Despite the viral success of “Take a Sexy Picture Of Me,” a song that addresses the body‑shaming she has endured online since gaining greater public attention, CMAT recently felt compelled to address further online harassment following her appearance at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026 earlier this summer.

“It is utterly tedious for me, a self‑described ‘gorgeous genius,’ to repeatedly address the abysmal treatment I receive regarding my appearance,” she wrote. “I would prefer to cease these discussions, but I cannot, as the frequency and intensity of such comments continue to escalate as my fame grows.”

Earlier this May, CMAT received the Best Album accolade at the Ivors 2026 for “Euro‑Country,” an effort that was also shortlisted for the 2025 Mercury Prize and secured the fourth position on NME’s rankings of the year’s best albums.

Bilbao BBK Live 2026 commenced on Thursday, July 9, featuring electrifying sets by artists such as FKA Twigs and David Byrne; see NME’s coverage of the opening day for further details.

Alongside CMAT and Williams, the second night also showcased performances by Tomora — a collaborative venture between Aurora and Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers, as well as contributions from Alabama Shakes and Belle and Sebastian. The festival will conclude on Friday, July 11, with closing appearances by Lily Allen, IDLES, and additional acts.

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