A year ago, hardly anyone here in Switzerland knew Tom Grennan. In the meantime, you can’t get past the 27-year-old British singer/songwriter. “Little bit of Love” by Tom Grennan is THE catchy tune par excellence. The song is the most played song in German-speaking Switzerland in 2021. Hearing the song for the first time, I too fell in love with “Little Bit Of Love” (listen to the song here). Since then it has been running continuously for me in endless repeat. That rousing melody, that pleading, desperation and passion in the song, that slightly raspy voice… Listen to it and you’ll know what I mean!
I knew there was one or two shows coming up this summer. But when Radio Energy announced a Tom Grennan showcase in Basel at short notice, it was clear: I want and MUST go there. Thanks to my Instagram community, it even works out.
Our favorite English boy
Slightly hyper, Tom Grennan was the last to enter the small stage of Viertel Club. It is understandable that he is excited and full of anticipation. His 2020 tour was also postponed. So he is all the happier to be performing at the Energy Live Session in Basel’s Viertelclub. He hopes to become our “Favorite English Boy”. The chances are very good!
Tom Grennan is accompanied by his 6-member band consisting of a guitarist, drummer, keyboard player, female bassist and background singers. They start the approximately 1-hour show energetically with “If Only” from his current second album “Evering Road”.
Unplanned music career
The Brit can already boast two platinum top 10 singles, a number 1 album, two BRIT Award nominations, 100,000 concert tickets sold and over a billion streams. Though for a long time, Tom Grennan has not even considered a music career at all.
As a teenager, Tom Grennan aspires to be a footballer. He plays for Luton Town, Northampton Town, Aston Villa and Stenevage and is about to play in the States. Luckily, things turned out differently: After a karaoke evening, his schoolmates are so enthusiastic about him that they form a band together. Tom teaches himself to play the guitar with the help of Youtube. When his football career is not happening, he first studies acting in London. But there Tom begins to perform in pubs, where one evening he is discovered by the record label “Insanity”. They sign him.
Best sold newcomer album
In 2016 Tom Grennan releases his first EP “Something In The Water”. The follow ups are “Release The Breaks” and “Found What I’ve Been Looking For” in 2017. In July 2018 his long-awaited debut album “Lighting Matches” is finally released, which ends among the top 10 best-selling newcomer albums in the UK.
The second song of the evening “Something better” is the third single release from this album and, like the whole second work, it is characterized by soul and gospel. So this evening we can enjoy the polyphonic gospel singing even more, especially during “Amen”.
Tom Grennan presents a great mix of his two albums. “Barbed Wire”, “Found What I’ve Been Looking For” and “Sober” are the best known ones from the first album. “Don’t Break The Heart” and the current single “Remind Me” among others from the new album.
Thereby his energy really seems endless. He runs across the small stage from one corner to the other, lets the audience jump wildly and sing along, flirts with the front row… It’s a total party in the small Basel club.
More than a “little bit of love” for Tom Grennan
Then finally the song everyone has been waiting for. The song I’ve been waiting for, too. Finally “Little Bit Of Love” follows and Tom Grennan probably convinces the very last one in the club with it. The song rounds off his great showcase perfectly. The audience absolutely loves it and definitely has more than a “little bit of love” for Tom Grennan. I can’t wait to see him live again – hopefully even this summer.
Tom Grennan will be performing at the following Swiss festivals this summer:
05.08.2022 Stars In Town, Schaffhausen
12.08.2022 Heitere Openair, Zofingen (sold out)
20.08.2022 Venoge Festival, Penthaz
Infos zu Tom Grennan: www.tomgrennanmusic.com
Infos zur Energy Live Session: energy.ch/live-session
