Bedford-born Tom Grennan cut his teeth on open mics and grew into a soulful pop singer with a gravel-edge voice.

Bedford grit, radio gold

Early indie grit from Lighting Matches gave way to bigger pop and dance moments on What Ifs & Maybes, without losing that raw punch.

Songs that will likely land

Expect a set that swings between chest-thumping anthems and acoustic breathers, likely built around Little Bit of Love, Found What I've Been Looking For, Remind Me, and How Does It Feel. The room tends to mix radio-first fans drawn in by DJ collabs, album listeners who favor deeper cuts, and couples who know every chorus. One lesser-known note: his breakthrough came when he voiced Chase & Status's All Goes Wrong, and he still nods to that era with a rougher live tone. He also performs with a metal plate in his jaw after an attack as a teen, which partly explains his careful warmups and smart pacing. You might catch a mid-set quiet segment on stool and acoustic before the band kicks back in. Setlist picks and staging notes here are educated guesses, not confirmed details.

The Scene: Warm, Singalong, Detail-Driven

You will see a mix of streetwear and smart-casual: clean trainers, bomber jackets, vintage band tees, and the odd football shirt.

What fans bring and wear

Glitter and bold liner show up near the rail, but most fans keep it relaxed and ready to move.

Shared moments you can feel

Chants tend to rise before the drop into a chorus, with clapped backbeats on twos and fours and a loud final tag on the last hook. Phone lights come out for one stripped ballad, then pockets of fans jump in unison when the drums flip to a dance pulse. Merch leans into big block fonts, dice and heart motifs from the What Ifs & Maybes era, and simple black hoodies that match the stage palette. People swap favorite first-heard moments, whether Little Bit of Love on radio or a gym playlist track, creating small bonds across rows. After the encore bow, many stick around to finish the chorus one more time a cappella, more like a shared ritual than an exit rush.

How the Songs Hit Live: Voice, Band, and Build

The vocal is the center: a raspy tenor that can belt hard, then soften to a near-whisper for verses.

Gravel meets gloss

The band typically runs drums, bass, guitar, keys, and two backing vocalists, keeping parts simple so the choruses hit clean.

Arrangements that breathe

Live, tempos often nudge a hair faster than the records, which adds lift without rushing the pocket. He likes to reframe a song by starting with just piano or acoustic and dry vocal, then bringing the band in on the second verse or a late chorus. Dance features get rebuilt with live drums playing a four-on-the-floor feel, while guitars add bright, choppy accents in the gaps. Listen for a common tweak where Found What I've Been Looking For opens with a spare, bluesy figure before the snare snaps the groove into focus. Lighting is bold color washes and crisp strobe on drops, used as accents rather than the main event. Small dynamic dips and held silences are key, letting crowd vocals become part of the arrangement for a bar or two.

If You Like Tom Grennan, Try These

Fans of Lewis Capaldi will recognize the big, aching hooks and singalong choruses, though Grennan leans grittier.

Neighboring voices

James Bay fits for those who like guitar-rooted pop with soulful turns and a band-driven show.

Dance crossovers, big stages

George Ezra overlaps on warm baritone moments and breezy, radio-ready pacing that still feels organic. If you came in through the club side, Joel Corry connects the dots between dance builds and pop toplines. Together these artists signal a crowd that likes heart-on-sleeve writing, sturdy grooves, and a night that balances polish with lived-in grit.