The vocal powerhouse that is Tom Walker brought the second date of his ‘I AM’ tour to Bristol’s O2 Academy on Friday 19th April and it was visibly clear how touched he was to have sold out the venue.
Accompanied by a talented four-piece band, Walker’s set was an audible feast for fans from start to finish. His audience consisted of a diverse mix of all ages, from older gig-goers with their children to younger fans, visibly illustrating that Tom’s style of music caters to a multitude of people.
Sporting his signature beanie hat throughout the show, Tom performed an array of ballads from his impeccable discography for over an hour and a half, surely giving the audience exceptional value for their money. Tom reiterated his appreciation of the fact people had paid money to see him and expressed that, whilst paying to attend the concert was enough, if his fans did want to support him further as an artist, they could purchase merch too. As part of his merchandise on offer, he had posters – which he taken the time to hand sign personally – on sale for £12.
Walker’s set showcased the deep devotion he has for his wife, despite the record label’s apparently playful suggestion to write less songs about her, a comment which elicited huge laughter from the crowd. During his live rendition of one of these songs he composed about her, he performed at the piano where he initially told the crowd that he’s “shit” at playing the instrument but told people “it’s good to get out of [their] comfort zone.”
I must admit that, apart from hearing Tom’s more publicly-played records, such as ‘Leave a Light On’ and ‘Just You And I’, I was completely unaware of how beautiful his obscurer tracks are. Thankfully, I discovered some great songs on the night that were phenomenally written as well as stunningly performed live. Some of my newly found favourites include ‘Lifeline’, which was for a friend of Tom’s that sadly passed away, and ‘Burn’ which was a real crowd pleaser.
Despite Bristol only being the second show on the tour, Tom mentioned he’d unfortunately already been struggling with his voice and had been trying everything to improve his health for the south-west gig, as he did not want to disappoint his fans by cancelling the gig. The singer-songwriter mentioned trying various remedies and medicines prior to the show to help aid his voice and even mentioned that, despite his self-professed lack of gym sessions, he exercised at a PureGym in Bristol’s City Centre as another step to helping his health! Walker’s dedication to his craft is undeniable, and his seemingly effortless delivery of a flawless performance left the audience wanting more. As he exited the stage, the crowd started chanting for him to sing “Leave a Light On” and the emotional connection with his audience was palpable the entire night. Part of the encore consisted of the outstanding single ‘Better Half of Me’, during which a fan proposed to their partner, adding an extra layer of emotion to an already unforgettable night. Lights illuminated the engagement in the crowd and the venue’s security even tried to draw Tom’s attention to the special occasion.
Overall, the much-loved singer refused to let ill health hold him, or his fantastic voice, back and thank goodness for his perseverance because this was undoubtedly a concert to remember.
Dan Rose @danrose.uk
Role: Photographer
I’m primarily a photographer for both concerts and festivals, and am also available for BTS photos, portraits, promo shoots and tour photography. I also write the occasional review.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots and Touring
First attended gig: My most memorable early concert experience was seeing Eminem in 2014 at Wembley Stadium. This was a very pivotal moment in my life as it reinforced why I love music so much and reignited my passion for it.
First gig shot: The very first artist I photographed live was the DJ and producer Nathan Dawe at SWX Bristol. This was an incredibly fulfilling start to concert photography, as I was on stage with him during his set, and even hung out backstage afterwards.
Dream gig: My top 5 dream artists to one day photograph would be Eminem, J. Cole, Rod Wave, Jon Bellion, and Logic. One of my favourite artists, Juice WRLD, is sadly no longer alive, and I wish I had had the opportunity to see him perform live and photograph him.
