Five EPs, six albums, more than 24 years of combined industry experience and one phenomenal night of live music. That is what happens when Tom A. Smith and Amy Macdonald share a bill at a venue as exquisite as The Globe Theatre in Stockton on a beautiful summer evening.
First up was rising Sunderland star Tom A. Smith. At just 22 years old, he has already earned praise from the likes of Elton John and Sam Fender. A seated venue such as The Globe may not be the usual setting for Smith and his band, but they rose to the occasion brilliantly. He constantly keeps audiences on their toes with energetic stage presence, confident movements and passionate vocals, perfectly demonstrated in tracks such as ‘I Don’t Blame You’ and ‘SFX’. Meanwhile, songs including ‘Let’s Go Dancing’ showcase his increasingly mature songwriting ability. Smith has developed into a frontman capable of completely captivating an audience.
Then came Amy Macdonald. She and her band wasted no time, taking to the stage and launching straight into ‘Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?’, the title track from her latest album, released in July 2025. It immediately set the tone for the evening and established the theatre as their own.
Tracks such as ‘The Hudson’ and ‘Don’t Tell Me That’s It’s Over’ demonstrated Macdonald’s ability to deliver emotionally powerful, softer moments, while embracing the Celtic influences that have become such an important part of her sound. Her biggest hits, including ‘Mr. Rock & Roll’, lifted the entire theatre, strengthening the connection between artist and audience and creating a truly memorable atmosphere.
Of course, no Amy Macdonald performance would be complete without the timeless classic ‘This Is The Life’. Delivered with genuine energy, its irresistible melody and rousing chorus once again had the crowd singing along, proving why it remains such an enduring favourite.
The night concluded with an encore featuring a cover of Beluga Lagoon’s ‘The Glen’, before finishing with ‘Let’s Start A Band’. It was a high-powered finale to an exceptional evening of music that left me, quite literally, wanting to start a band myself.
This show demonstrated how two artists – one emerging and one established – can come together to create something truly special. With different generations of fans united under one roof, the result was a compelling night of live music that offered something for everyone and left the audience with a memory worth holding on to.
