Photo Credit: Ellie Forrest
Words: Ariana Boga
Chart-topping Brit and IVOR-nominated artist Tom Grennan put on a spectacular show at the stunningly beautiful Lincoln Castle this Father’s Day as part of the Live at Lincoln series with TK Maxx. Being one of twelve headliners of the summer series, Grennan charmed the castle with his infectious energy and effortless ability to appeal to all generations with his beloved hits.
The evening began with indie-pop musician Fiona-Lee taking the stage and providing a remarkable set to ease the audience into a night of formidable live music. Exploring emotional vulnerability and uncertainty, Fiona-Lee began with ‘Nothing Compares to Nineteen’ – the title track of her first EP. Similar to the likes of Alanis Morissette, the artist doesn’t shy away from tackling weighted themes, such as those prominent in ‘Every Woman’. The track is centred on the experiences of women, holding men accountable and finding power in vulnerability. Fiona-Lee continued to showcase upcoming music, such as ‘It’s a Hell of a Tightrope’, announcing that the track would be out later in the year. Energised by infectious guitar riffs and solid basslines, ‘Not My Friends’ and ‘To Make Me Feel Good’ explored themes of longing and validation, before Fiona-Lee rounded off her set with ‘Mother.’
Soul and R&B powerhouse Brooke Combe took to the stage next, shifting the dynamic with her joyous 70s inspired tracks, such as the brilliant ‘Lanewood Pines’ and ‘This Town’, encouraging the crowd to chant and connect. Combe spoke of the importance of honesty in ‘Tears Won’t Lie’, leading into a cover of Barbara Lynn’s ‘You’re Losing Me’, crafting her setlist to emulate a formative journey of self-love and discovery. After thanking her wonderful band, Combe played a new track for the audience, asking whether it should be featured on her upcoming album. The slower, mellow tone clearly resonated after it was met with roaring applause. Combe continued her set by showcasing the old-school soul and smooth production of her 2025 album, including the title track ‘Dancing At The Edge Of The World’ that featured driving drums and upbeat synth. The Scottish singer-songwriter rounded off her set with the euphoric ‘How Can I Tell You? (To Love Me More)’ – a cry for connection hidden behind an upbeat and irresistible groove.
As the sun began to set behind Lincoln’s stunning castle, Tom Grennan graced the stage to The Turtles’‘Happy Together’ before diving straight into ‘Full Attention’, which he undoubtedly received from his eager audience. The energy in the 5,000 capacity grounds rose with each track played thereafter, with Grennanpleasing the crowd with favourites such as ‘Higher’ and ‘All These Nights’, featuring feel-good melodies and infectious hooks. Grennan expressed his gratitude at playing, in his words, ‘a beautiful venue’, announcing he ‘wouldn’t forget this gig’, before making space for the track that kickstarted his career as a solo artist back in 2017 – ‘Found What I’ve Been Looking For’. Shortly after ‘Don’t Break The Heart’, Grennan explained how he’d ‘been away hibernating and writing new stuff’ with ‘new music all wrapped up and ready to go.’ He expressed the importance of taking his performances right back to where he started with guitars, live instruments and organic sounds.
Grennan explored themes of luck and fortune in the reflective and upbeat ‘Crown Your Love’, following with ‘Royal Highness’, which was fitting for the commanding castle venue. Petra Luke, one of Grennan’s backing singers, joined him onstage for a remarkable rendition of ‘Let’s Go Home Together’ in which she took Ella Henderson’s role in the track centred on celebrating unexpected romance and chemistry.
The atmosphere surged once more with the next section of Grennan’s set. Focussed on his dance-pop collaborations with some of the world’s biggest DJs, ‘Lionheart’ and ‘By Your Side’ were firm crowd pleasers, with fans jumping and cheering. This inevitably proved the artist’s skill at maintaining audience attention and energy.
‘Remind Me’ and ‘Little Bit of Love’ rounded off the singer’s set, leaving the crowd with important messages about supporting one another and holding onto joy.
Illuminated by both the setting sun and the radiant lights of Lincoln Castle, Tom Grennan put on an exhilarating performance and proved his versatility as an established singer and performer. Grennan can resonate with multiple generations, and his music echoes all different genres and emotions, hence his sustained success in an ever-changing music industry.
Taped Magazine 