Tom Walker Review
Article written and photos by Elodie Hadfield
This was my second time seeing Tom Walker perform and wow... his performances just get better and better.
Tom Walker lit up the stage at the sold-out O2 Academy in Leeds last night (29th April). Tom Walker rose to fame after the release of his hit single ‘Leave a Light On’ back in 2018, which kickstarted his successful career in music. The Leeds show was one of the fifteen shows that made up the I AM, UK tour. Walker’s vocal ability is incredible and it was a privilege to both review and photograph his Leeds show.
As the band came out and took their places on stage, the excitement coming from the crowd filled the sold-out venue, with people cheering and chanting for Tom. Tom kicked off his set with ‘Rapture’ and ‘Wait For You. The energy in the O2 Academy was incredible as the crowd belted out the words back at Tom, people’s hands up high, swaying and dancing to the music. Tom also played his latest single ‘Head Underwater’ which was definitely a crowd favorite.
Later in the set, Tom played one of my personal favorite songs “Just You and I” and it’s safe to say the crowd loved it just as much as I did. It was so beautiful to see a crowd unified by love and care. The whole of the O2 sang in unison and the atmosphere during the song was truly magical and definitely a moment to remember.
The most emotional moment of the evening was when Tom dedicated the song “Lifeline” to a friend of his he’d lost. Tom explained the difficulties he and his friends had gone through after losing their close friend, stating it was the most difficult year of his life. Tom talked about the importance of reaching out when you’re struggling and that he had teamed up with CALM Charity, a charity that focuses on helping and protecting those in need. During the whole song, the crowd was quiet, listening to the beautiful and emotionally powered lyrics.
After a beautiful set, Tom concluded the evening with arguably his most famous song “Leave a Light On” and the crowd absolutely loved every minute of it. The sound of the whole venue singing the lyrics was heart-warming and it was a very special and emotional moment, especially for me. You could just see how much the support of his fans meant and how much he loves sharing his music and sound with the world
Overall, Tom’s performance was truly phenomenal. It was such a privilege to watch Tom share his stories with his fans and the show was a pleasure to both photograph and review. I look forward to seeing where Tom Walker goes next in his music journey.
