London-based musician takes to the stage at KOKO for a sold-out performance.

In his early 20s, Tom Grennan played a sold out show at KOKO in London on Wednesday night. Before becoming a singer-songwriter with hoards of hip, Camden-esque teenage girls screaming at him from behind the stage barrier, he was on his way to becoming a successful footballer, having played for teams like Aston Villa. So if you enjoy feeling good about your achievements to date, Tom Grennan might be a guy to avoid.

His performance is actually quite understated, which is no bad thing. He appears on stage in a brown suit – a difficult look to pull off, but he manages – and just immediately starts the first number Royal Highness. The teenagers are instantly screaming, and the atmosphere lifts by at least 75%. It’s not a high-energy gig – but, for the most part, it matches the general vibe of Grennan’s songs; laid back and relaxed.

However, all that changed when Grennan launches into Found What I’ve Been Looking For, arguably his most popular track to date. It gets the audience even more on their feet than they already were, and is significantly more ‘danceable’ than Grennan’s other songs. I’ve been singing it to myself since that day…

His on-stage presence as the cheeky, upbeat singer-songwriter with the slightly sleepy, nonchalant dance moves that go along with his songs works perfectly. Tom Grennan knows how to please a crowd; and if you haven’t heard of him already, you definitely will soon.

Photos: Hannah Ellison