SINGER-songwriter Tom Walker performed two free gigs to huge crowds in the centre of Wrexham today (March 17).
Queen’s Square was full for the two 25-minute sets from the 32-year-old, who revealed earlier this week on his social media platforms that he would be performing in the city centre.
He said: "A while back we asked which small towns that bands and artists kind of forget about on a touring schedule should we be coming to.
"First of all we did Tamworth, then we did Barnsley. This weekend, on Sunday we are going to be heading to Wrexham in Wales. It was one of the top commented places that we should visit."
Fans gathered long before his first set started at 11am, with one young fan eagerly waiting to give his hero a picture he had made for him.
Tom arrived to rapturous applause before starting his set with his 2020 hit, Wait For You.
Between songs, he told the crowds how he spent yesterday at The Turf pub and at the STōK Cae Ras to watch Wrexham AFC’s 1-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers.
He also paid a visit to the Yellow and Blue (YaB) Hub in Wrexham on Sunday morning.
“I can’t believe the turnout,” he added.
“There's something magic going on in this city… I’m glad to be a small part of it for a tiny little moment.
“I’m not going to lie; I spent a lot of time in The Turf yesterday! Everyone there is so lovely; we had the best day ever. It was an unbelievable day.
“Thank you so much for welcoming us to this incredible city and for having us; it’s such a pleasure.”
Tom, who hails from Scotland, went on to dedicate the performance of his song Just You and I to his wife, Annie Watson-Foulds, who he married last year.
He went on to play Shaking - which he said he “only plays at house parties normally” - Head Underwater, and Burn – “one of my favourite songs on my new album” – before finishing with crowd favourite, Leave a Light On.
One of his songs he also dedicated to a taxi driver who he met in Wrexham yesterday, and who helped one of his friends in getting a last-minute ticket for the Tranmere match.
After finishing his first set, Tom spent more than 30 minutes signing autographs and posing for photographs with starstruck fans.
Among those to have their photo taken with the singer were members of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, while the mayor of Wrexham, Cllr Andy Williams, was also in attendance.
Gill Owen, who came from St Martin’s especially to see Tom, said she had been “gobsmacked” to learn he was performing a free gig in Wrexham, and thought it was “marvellous”.
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She added: “I think he’s fantastic. He’s got a lovely gravelly tone when he goes down low. I love his delivery because it comes from the heart.
“It was absolutely wonderful.”
Tom will release his second album, I Am, on Friday, May 31.
It will be the follow-up to his debut release; 2019’s What a Time to Be Alive, which topped the UK album charts.
He had previously performed similar “pop-up” shows in Tamworth and Barnsley.
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