Imagine selling out The Fire Station in Sunderland – two nights back to back. Now, imagine being cast to play local hero Dave Stewart, the legendary songwriter and producer behind Eurythmics. Then imagine performing at Reading & Leeds, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, and Glastonbury.
Add to that a string of support slots with indie icons like Courteeners, Catfish & The Bottlemen, DMA’s, and Billy Bragg.
Now imagine being hand-picked to support Sir Elton John on his farewell tour.
And then imagine doing all of that before turning 20.
Tom A. Smith has done just that – and he’s only getting started.
Without even releasing a full-length album, the Sunderland-born artist and his band are generating serious momentum. His finely tuned blend of indie swagger and pop sensibility has already marked him as one of the UK’s most exciting new artists.
Smith’s voice carries a youthful cheekiness and brash confidence – giddily young and dangerously self-assured. It’s that perfect balance of charm and ambition that makes his music so engaging.
His songs – jaunty, anthemic and relentlessly confident – take on new life when performed live. On stage, every member of Smith’s band radiates energy, leaping across the stage and injecting their set with the love, urgency, and exuberance that arena-ready tracks demand.
Songs like ‘Little Bits’ sound tailor-made for a stadium crowd, with massive choruses and emotional resonance that land every time. These are not just tunes for indie backrooms – they’re future festival mainstage staples.
And yet, for now, you can still catch Tom A. Smith on home turf. But opportunities to do so are becoming increasingly rare.
On Friday 15th August, he returns to Sunderland’s The Fire Station, where we’ll see him in full bloom. This could be one of the last chances to witness a hometown hero before he ascends even higher.
With boundless energy, infectious hooks, and a crowd-pleasing instinct, Tom A. Smith could well be the future of British indie music.
If you don’t believe the hype, believe Sir Elton John himself, who declared: “He’s going to be a BIG star.”
The proof is in the music – listen for yourself. With his charismatic delivery, punchy choruses and chart-ready confidence, Tom A. Smith is already showing us exactly where he’s headed.
Tickets, priced at £20.00 in advance, are available from thefirestation.org.uk.
