A triple bill of feel good vibes topped by the graduation of Tom Grennan to Arena status

Words & Photos – John Hayhurst

I feel like I have watched Tom Grennan grow up in the last seven years, every summer (apart from the Covid years) there was a festival where I would watched him perform, and every year he gained that bit more confidence, sass and personality. The younger girls loved him and the Mums and Dads saw something there too. Always a good sign of a promising new artist if they can cross age groups with their early performances, he was destined to have chart hits and play Arenas.

We have 2 fantastic supports, both of whom I have seen before. Frankie Beetlestone is another improver since I saw him play Stockton’s ARC a few years ago. He admits he has never played anything as large as this, normally in pubs and clubs in his native Sheffield, but that doesn’t show in his performance. ‘Pop Star’ lets him loose away from his guitar, although he daren’t venture on to the Grennan runway, and prefers to dance in front and with his 3 piece band. There are a few singing along near the front with their 2-pinters of Dark Fruits in hand, so I expect to hear more of him in the next few years.

Gracey I have seen in this very venue before, as she supported Anne Marie last year. She will have noticed like I did that tonight was much more full for Grennan, and again she had a few fans near the front singing back her lyrics. She rarely stops moving around and throwing that long hair about, its a dance style that fits well with the audience who came here to party and sing along. ‘Don’t Need Love’ seemed to resonate with several people here.

Eventually the lights go down and Grennan enters the stage to screams while old photos of a very young Tom are shown on the huge backscreen. “I’ve always dreamed of playing venues like this” he shouts, at first glance it looked like he was topless already – he’s not afraid to get the pecs out, but actually it is a skin tight gold coloured top and black leather look trousers that he’s wearing. First number ‘Don’t Break the Heart’ he seems reticent to enter the huge walkway that almost stretches to the back of the standing area, however, he will use it to great effect throughout the show, and after ‘If Only’ he stands there motionless for a few seconds, looking out at an almost full capacity arena. “I’ve always done well in the North and Leeds is one of my favourite places to play”, there is a genuine feeling of humbleness with his short speech of thanks to the fans for getting him this far – he will say it several times tonight just to make sure you get the message.

A medley of his older stuff follows including ‘Barbed Wire’ which I would have thought he would have left to the latter stages. You then realise he is using this tour, either bravely or foolishly to promote his third but unreleased album ‘What Ifs and Maybes’, and he will practically play the whole thing. That takes some serious balls to do that at your first Arena gig, and tonight is a coming of age party where Tom Grennan will become the pop/rock star he should always have been. No more dodgy lurid shell suits (anyone go to Bingley Weekender in 2019?) now we have the Jim Morrison leather look trousers and slightly longer hair, the trademark gravelly voice is in fine fettle too as he can croon with the best of them and he will give Lewis Capaldi a run for his money sometime soon.

The new and unreleased songs go down very well, along with a few choice covers from KSI, Chase & Status and Calvin Harris. All the way through he reiterates the fans importance to him and he frequently grabs photo selfies when he can from those eager down the front. Midway through the set he runs a duet with one of his backing singers on Ella Henderson’s ‘Let’s Go Home Together’ showing another side of his growing talent. A 21 song setlist that incorporated 10 new songs, a move that worked and probably ensured that his album will go number 1 when it is released in June.

Tom Grennan will not be going back to the Academy circuit anytime soon.

Tom Grennan Setlist:

Don’t Break the Heart, If Only, Sober/Royal Highness/Barbed Wire, Crown Your Love, This Is the Place, Amen, All These Nights, Head Up, Found What I’ve Been Looking For, Psychedelic Kisses, Lets Go Home Together, Here, This Side Of The Room, How Does It Feel, Not Over Yet, All Goes Wrong, Lionheart (Fearless), By Your Side, Remind Me, Little Bit of Love, You Are Not Alone.