The penultimate night of music in Cardiff Castle, in a summer series from Depot Live, was brought to us by indie-pop sensation Tom Grennan. Fans of all ages gathered in anticipation for a sold-out show; Tom Grennan has worked hard over the years to build his career and fanbase to become a household name. Tom wasn’t the only name on the line-up, as he was supported by two powerhouse artists Brooke Combe and Victor Ray. Combe and Ray are certainly ones to watch; their voices wowed the Welsh crowd with their incredible vocals.
Tom’s music style is certainly versatile, ranging from indie, to jazz, to pop, and drum and bass. He’s a jack-of-all-trades! He started the show by singing some of his older tracks from his early career, slowly moving into his current hits and turning the show into a big, energetic party as he played his dance tracks. The crowd were with him from the first note until the very last, singing each song word-for-word, proving that his fans enjoy his music no matter what genre the track fits into. Tom’s ability to be so versatile reflects his talent, and his vocals are nothing short of incredible. Grennan certainly enjoyed showing off his vocals and revelling in the cheers by holding long notes and boasting impressive riffs.
It’s clear that Tom has a great bond with his band, which makes for a great show. You can tell when a creative team are well tuned with one-another; I always think this makes a show even better. Tom made a point of introducing guitarist Danny Connors, a Welshman from Newport, who has worked with Grennan and other big artists for many years. He also brough backing singer Petra Luke into the limelight to sing Ella Henderson’s part in ‘Let’s Go Home Together’. The entire creative team were fantastic at bringing this concert to life and putting on a show that will leave lasting memories upon the crowd.
Toward the end of the show, Grennan jumped down into the crowd to interact with excited fans. As he began closing the show with his final hits, he spoke to young, Welsh boy Harvey and gave him a microphone to sing along to one of his most famous tracks ‘Little Bit of Love’. Harvey sang along eagerly and was visibly shaking with excitement; a memory that he will never be forgetting. He certainly warmed the hearts of the people of Cardiff last night.
This gig is one that will go down in Cardiff Castle history. Tom Grennan is a fantastic performer and entertainer, putting on a great show for fans who have supported his career for many years. It’s evident that he loves what he does and puts his heart and soul into creating live music that is unforgettable. A notable highlight for me was when he sang ‘All Goes Wrong’ – a very early track that he did with drum and bass legends Chase and Status. This is the track that boosted Grennan to fame many years ago. He also teased that his new album is complete and ready for release, claiming that it’s his “best work yet”. It’s sad to know that the stage will soon be coming down after an epic summer in Cardiff Castle – bring on next year!
