Sunderland artist Tom A. Smith releases his new single "Get Me Started", as premiered by Clara Amfo on BBC Radio 1
PRAISE FOR TOM A. SMITH
"I think he is going to be a big star". – SIR ELTON JOHN
"“Go on Tom A Smith, this boy just keeps getting better and better“ –JACK SAUNDERS (BBC RADIO 1)
“This is Tom A. Smith and Little Bits, really good this." - (Jordan North, BBC Radio 1)
New Bangers Playlist – ‘Never Good Enough’ – NME
“When most of us get to 18, we’re only just getting ready to start on life ‘proper’. Not Tom A Smith – he’s been playing gigs since he was knee-high to a bassist, and it shows.” – DORK
“There's an age-old rule about working for 10,000 hours before you truly master something. Now, we can't verify if that's true or not, but prodigal songwriter Tom A. Smith must surely have clocked up 10,000 hours before he was even in his teens.” – CLASH
"A restless rocky anthem to freedom from the Sunderland teenager who penned more than 150 songs during lockdown." THE TIMES (Best New Tracks, ‘Dragonfly’)
"While he may be in the primary stages of his career, it is fair to say that Smith's irresistible blend of visual mastery and explosive sound make him one to watch. " – WONDERLAND
After continuing to cement his vibrant legacy with the highly-praised collection 'EP3' and follow up single “Fading Away” last year, all of which found airtime on BBC Radio 1, Radio X, and Absolute Radio, as well as on-air support on Sunday Brunch, MTV Gonzo, Soccer AM and MOTD X and selling out 10 dates on his UK headline tour including Camden Assembly, Tom A. Smith is now back for 2024 to deliver his anthemic new offering “Get Me Started”.
Returning to those blistering indie-rock aesthetics he has quickly earned a reputation for in recent years, “Get Me Started” sees him returning with one of his most impactful efforts yet. Doubling down on that euphoric energy he knows so well, with yet another singalong chorus to boot, he continues to shine as one of the UK’s more exciting names on the rise.
Speaking about “Get Me Started”, he said, “This song was written about not having the self-belief or confidence to speak to people I like without a bit of alcohol to relax me. I’d rather appear to be something I’m not. Really enjoyed producing it as I had a clear idea of how I wanted it to sound.”
Tom A. Smith returns after an incredible whirlwind of live performances throughout the last two years, including being selected by Elton John to join him at his British Summer Time show at Hyde Park, appearances at Glastonbury in 2022 and 2023 (Left Field stage and Strummerville), BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Dundee, F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, opening Leeds Festival to more than 6000 music fans, The Great Escape and Neighbourhood Weekender and not to mention supporting Catfish & The Bottlemen, The Lathums, The Mysterines, Hard-Fi, Courteeners, Miles Kane, James, Billy Bragg, DMA’s, Vistas, and Gang of Youths to name a few!
After seeing out his 2023 with almost two full months of non-stop touring around the UK, Tom A. Smith has now announced his run of festival and live show performances for this summer. Check out the full list of dates below.
TOM A. SMITH LIVE DATES:
6th May – Glasgow, King Tut’s
7th May – Manchester, The Deaf Institute
8th May – Bristol, The Louisiana
9th May – London, Colours Hoxton
10th May – Newcastle, The Grove
13th May – Sheffield, The Leadmill 2
25th May – Live At Leeds Festival
15th June – supporting Billy Bragg
6th July – supporting James (Orchestral)
20th July – Monument Festival
3rd August – Kendal Calling Festival
10th Aug – Birkenhead Live Festival
25th Aug – Victorious Festival
Despite still being a teenager, Sunderland-based newcomer Tom A. Smith has already achieved more than most artists do in a lifetime. He played his first ever gig aged just eight, supporting local psychedelic rockers Detroit Social Club at legendary Newcastle venue The Cluny, performed at Glastonbury before he was even in secondary school, and Tim Burgess handpicked him to play his stage at Kendal Calling, making him the festival’s youngest ever performer. He has played live with local hero Sam Fender and Catfish & The Bottlemen, as well as supported other Northern acts on the rise like The Lathums and The Mysterines.
Tom A. Smith’s self-uploaded performances have won him fans amongst rock and roll royalty. The week David Bowie passed, Bowie’s widow Iman shared Smith’s cover of Bowie’s Lazarus online, commenting on the emotional impact of Smith’s rendition. Blossoms recognised him from one of his videos as he was watching them from the crowd and invited him backstage, while Morrissey - not a man known to lavish praise or endorsements on others - played Smith’s cover of Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want as his walk on music on a recent US tour. Nile Rogers, James frontman Tim Booth, indie legends The Coral, and many more besides have shared footage of his performances across the globe.
“It’s never normal. Every single time it happens it’s surreal,” reflects Smith on the countless pinch-me moments of his career so far. “Music is always what I wanted to do. I just fell in love with it. I asked for guitar lessons when I was four. It’s all I’ve ever known.”
Having achieved so much so soon you might think Smith would be content to rest on his laurels a bit. Been there, done that sort of thing; fire up the PS5 and tell your mates about that time you played Glastonbury. All his achievements so far have done though is to stoke Smith’s creative fire and make him want to achieve more as an artist, a performer and a songwriter.
DISCOVER TOM A. SMITH
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