Tom Grennan / Utilita Arena / Birmingham

Another trip across the midlands to Englands second city, and a first visit to the Utilita Arena in the heart of Birmingham, right by the canals to catch Tom Grennan on his UK tour, following the release of his latest album “Everywhere I Went Led Me To Where I Didn't Want To Be”.

First up on stage is a support set from Allie Sherlock, an Irish singer, guitarist, and songwriter, who rose to prominence when she went viral al YouTube with a busking performance of Ed Sheeran’s "Supermarket Flowers". A regular busking performer on Grafton Street in Dublin, Allie has gone on to build a YouTube following of over 6 million subscribers and has had over 1.4 billion video views !

She has gone on to release her debut album “Allie” in 2023. A short but incredible powerful set, Allie plays guitar and sings her own song How Love Works along with covers of Lola Young’s Messy, Tom Odell’s Black Friday and ending with Adele’s Set Fire to the Rain.

A great performance on such a large stage, displaying a maturity beyond her years. Her voice is powerful and carries round the arena with ease. Thoroughly enjoyable opening set and one to watch for sure !

Setlist

Messy (Lola Young cover)

Black Friday (Tom Odell cover)

How Love Works

Set Fire to the Rain (Adele cover)

After a short break, and before the main event, out steps Tom Walker. A Scottish singer / songwriter perhaps best known for his song Leave a Light On which reached number 7 in the UK singles chart. Tom has released two albums, 2019’s “What a Time to be Alive” and 2024’s “I Am”.

Tom is a regular headliner in his own right and it shows as he delivers a great set. There’s a country edge to his sound and rugged look to match, Tom commands his stage brilliantly. The crowd are singing along right through the set. Tracks like Just You and I and Better Half of Me go down a storm with the audience, but he leaves the best for last with a stunning rendition of his hit Leave a Light On the piano accompaniment taking centre stage, backing his soulful vocals perfectly. A powerful and emotional track, a perfect end to a great set.

Setlist

Holy Ghost

Wait for You

Castles

Just You and I

Head Underwater

Better Half of Me

Not Giving In

Burn

Leave a Light On

The stage is covered now with a large drape to hide the set behind as they ready for the arrival of Tom Grennan. From Bedford, Tom first entered the charts in 2016 as vocalist on Chase & Status's track All Goes Wrong. He went on to release his debut album “Lighting Matches” in 2018 which reached number 5 in the UK chart. He released “Evering Road” in 2021, “What Ifs & Maybes” in 2023 and his new album “Everywhere I Went, Led Me to Where I Didn't Want to Be” recently.

The Utilita was packed now and the excitement levels starting to peak. Unexpectedly the music on the PA system changed and we enjoy Birmingham’s finest and some Black sabbath and their classic track War Pigs. You can’t help sing along, and the crowd echoed around the arena as they joined in heartily.

As the track drew to a close the lights suddenly dimmed and the screams rang out. This was it…… The drape dropped and the lights burst on, as predictably, the audience went wild.

The stage set was stunning. Kind of simple but incredibly effective. A curtain backdrop behind large letters spelling out GRENNAN in a curve, with large banks of lights on rigs either side. The stage is set onto a couple of tiers / steps with the band smartly dressed and spaced out on either side, with a long simple walkway stretching out into the audience. It just dripped style, reminiscent of a Vegas show from a legend such as Sammy Davis Jr or Dean Martin, or even the backdrop for a classic swing band. Tom stands centre stage, simply dressed in black, beaming from ear to ear as he greets the crowd.

What follows is a high energy 90-minute set with songs from his latest album, “Everywhere I Went Led Me To Where I Didn't Want To Be”, as well as a mix of fan favourites from his previous releases.

The set starts off with the opening track from the new album Full Attention and Tom wasted no time in walking down the ramp to introduce and say hi to his Birmingham fans. Accompanied by a brass section that big band feel is in full effect now ! The song has that wonderful Robbie ring to it as it opens, and is just infectious….. you just can’t help but tap your foot and move when it comes on. A rousing opener if ever there was one.

Mind you, having said that Cool With That runs it a close second for energy, with its groovy beat and its almost rap verse sections, the chorus brings the house down, with lines like “and some call it crazy and some call it fast. As long as you’re with me, I’m cool with that”. Its a love song about connection on so many levels and its just bursting with emotion and energy!

The lighting was spectacular adding to the atmosphere and Tom never stood still, taking every opportunity to walk or run down the ramp to be close to the fans as he sang.

The set was strong and packed with favourites. The middle of the set included Found What I've Been Looking For, the 80’s pop feel of Boys Don't Cry and the wonderful Don't Break the Heart. The crowd have their phones up, the dots of lights round the whole of the vast arena an incredible sight, as they all try to capture a moment of their hero performing.

Of course, All Goes Wrong, the 2016 Chase and Status track that began it all for Grennan is a huge hit with the fans who scream and sing along with gusto.

For me, the most striking moment of the night was the performance of I Won’t Miss A Thing. A beautiful soulful ballad with Tom supported by a piano, a song of heartfelt loss and losing someone so special. The emotion, the fear and the pain just drips from every word., with lines such as “On the day we go different directions, can I follow the road that you paved? If I carry the weight of your lessons, Will the memory of you never fade?” It’s such an emotional track, the audience stand in utter silence, gripped throughout, and as its final notes fade away the cheers echo round the arena. Simply stunning stuff.

Lionheart was a huge hit with the fans, and the set drew to a close with By Your Side and Remind Me. The night ended with a beautiful version of Little Bit of Love from 2021, that had everyone hanging on every note and word.

Tom Grennan drew inspiration from those classic shows with the set and performance on this tour. His relaxed and approachable manner with the fans was a joy to witness and looking round the vast hall, the simple enjoyment etched on so many faces told you everything you needed to know about tonights show.

Setlist

Intro - War Pigs (Black Sabbath song)

Full Attention

Higher

All These Nights

Cool With That

Found What I've Been Looking For

Boys Don't Cry

Don't Break the Heart

Crown Your Love

Certified

Royal Highness