Sam Tompkins Sets The Night Alight At Headline Show At The 02 Ritz

An exciting and honest voice, Sam Tompkins  is another emerging presence in the UK Soul scene. Blink, and you’ll miss him at your own risk.

Beginning the night, a mix of fan favourite and unreleased music is performed by the support act - Leciester born singer-songwriter Martin Luke Brown, a close friend of Sam.

Likening himself to Sam, both who are known as people who love to perform the “sad songs”, Martin casts an isolating figure with only his piano for company on the stage of the 02 Ritz as bright lights illuminate him. The growing crowd, quickly embrace him as he journey through a emotionally heavy setlist of songs but not soon after we arrive at the crux of the night.

A sam Tompkins show is balancing on a live-wire of emotion. Already his third or fourth headline show in Manchester since he started singing from the age of 16 in the streets with the sole aim of buying a hat, he’s greeted with nothing but love from his fans.

Tension builds as the start of a track loads, gradually getting louder, the bass deep, and then Sam explodes out both physically and vocally -  high tempo as he begins with ‘More Than Me’ backed by a band that includes a pianist and guitarist.

Without breaking a sweat, he moves into the more fun pop-influenced ‘die for someone’ to the joy of the crowd before roaming across the stage ‘You Broke my Heart So Gently’.

There was however quite moments that broke up the high energy performance during the set designed to allow room for tenderness to fill the room as he dedicates ‘time will fly’ to the “dreamers” and also the stripped back rendiction of ‘see me’.

The artist proves a comforting warmth from the cold November night on the romantic ‘all my everything’ a dedication to his partner before he slows it down further, the atmosphere and himself as he come near the end midway point.

He demonstrates a different type of vulnerbility on ‘Little Boy’, a response to the passing of his father last year and then the band comes back for a rendition of Bruno Mars’ ‘Talking to the Moon’, a song that gained attention on social media before being released officially.

The whole night, one thing that comes across in Sam’s authenticness, as well as talent - this sticks out even more during an incident when Sam pauses the show to allow a fan Max on the stage to speak, he said: "He has helped me so much, he’s a legend who doesn’t get enough credit.”

And isn’t that the whole point of it all, to help.

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