Review and Photography by Robert Barrett

Exactly two years to the day Tom Grennan busked in the City Center, Bedfords finest finally returned to the city of culture for a special sold-out album release show at the HMV Empire.

The venue was rammed just 30 mins after opening, which meant that support act Frankie Beetlestone had an almost full crowd to play to. Even though he had only played his show recently there was a lot to like about him. Some great jangly indie tunes showed his potential.

Tom burst onto the stage in a brand-new two-tone Coventry away shirt, much to the crowds delight. Being an album release show almost all tracks from his recent number 1 album Evering Road got some air play, along with a few oldies from his back catalogue such as “Sober” and “All Goes Wrong”.

His incredible vocals almost replicated what was on record to the tee. Mix this with his Gallagher esq stage presence and it combines to make an unmissable act on track to be a household name.

By the end of the set he was topless, with confetti raining into the crowd during the anthemic “Little Bit of Love”. Quite the production boost from his previous busking set, but still retained the same heart and passion as before.