Tom Grennan review: Fans enjoy Bedford-born singer's return to 'the motherland' at Cork's Marquee
Acknowledging the heat in the tented venue full of thousands of fans said: 'I’m sweating from places I didn’t know I had'. Picture: Chani Anderson
Another smashing day of the sun splitting the stones saw those attending Tom Grennan’s only Irish gig this summer take shade at Cork’s Live at the Marquee.
People soaked up the evening sunshine at nearby pubs, where a refreshing spritz was the drink of choice, before making their way down Centre Park Road to the red and blue tent to see the 30-year-old English singer-songwriter perform his greatest hits.
String tops, loose skirts, and sun hats were the outfits of choice, with handheld fans working overtime in an attempt to circulate some air in the sweltering heat of the tented venue.
Grennan’s Cork gig, which was part of his mini summer tour of mainly UK dates, saw him perform some of his well-known material, including hits and as well as songs from his most recent album, .
“How are you feeling, Ireland?, he asked, arriving on stage to a crowd anticipating a night of belting out the lyrics to some of the most heartbreaking and equally healing songs.
His fourth studio album, released in 2025, was finished when he was 28, which Grennan told the earlier this week now feels like a lifetime ago.
Now a father of one, the Bedford-born singer said that while things are different since having his daughter with his wife Daniella Carraturo, live performing is where he comes alive.
His presence in the Marquee and interaction with his fans proved that the stage is where he feels most at home.
Touching on his Irish roots, he said: “I’m back in the motherland! How are we feeling?”, before breaking into
He went on to say he missed Ireland, missed its people and acknowledged that he “went away” for a while to make new music — something “new and organic”.
He said his new music has a lot of Irish influence running through it — a nod to his Irish father.
Acknowledging the heat in the tented venue full of thousands of fans, he said: “I’m sweating from places I didn’t know I had”.
Halfway through the set, Grennan invited singer-songwriter Dave Lofts on stage to sing a one-off duet of Lofts’ song which Grennan later described as “special”.
Grennan’s debut album
was one of the best-selling debut albums of 2018. He rose to fame through his first appearance as the guest vocalist on the Chase and Status track,
. His second album
was released in March 2021, beginning his breakthrough into the UK by charting at number one on the UK Albums Chart.
In 2023, he released his third album which became his second UK number one album. His most recent and fourth album was released last year.
Grennan will go on to tour the UK this summer, with gigs in Suffolk, York, and Halifax.
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