Charttopper Tom Walker set to wow Strathpeffer Pavilion and The Loft, Forres as Kilsyth-born singer/songwriter plays intimate acoustic shows featuring his biggest hits – including Leave a Light On and Just You and I

CHARTTOPPING singer/songwriter Tom Walker is set to leave a light on across the north of Scotland this weekend with two intimate sold out acoustic concerts.

The Kilsyth-born, Manchester-raised artist behind huge hits including the top 10 Leave a Light On and Just You and I will play at Strathpeffer Pavilion on Friday and The Loft, Forres on Saturday - dates brought about by Ullapool-based promoters Beyond Presents.

These dates form part of his Home Run acoustic tour - a run of shows that sees the musician swapping the multi-thousand capacity venues he’s become used to performing at in favour of playing some of Scotland’s most intimate venues.

Supporting him at Strathpeffer will be local singer/songwriters Keir Gibson and Gordon James, while opening at Forres is Stephanie Cheape and Liv Dawn.

Speaking as the support slots for the tour were announced, Tom said: “The Home Run tour combines everything I love. Playing acoustically is always a buzz because there’s something really intimate and special with the audience when the songs are stripped right back to their basics.

“I love playing on home turf, where the fans really treat you as family and have given me a huge amount of support from when I was just starting out.

“I’m really excited to have all the support artists on board for the tour and to give a little boost to a local artist each night.

“It’s not that long since I was trying to get onto gigs as the opening act and it can really make a difference to your career by playing to new audiences who have the chance to hear you for the first time. To be able to offer that opportunity on this tour is amazing.”

All of this comes to support the release of a deluxe edition of his debut record What a Time to be Alive.

The album topped the UK charts on its initial release in March 2019, going on to be certified Gold in this country.

Buzz around the release of the album was huge after 2017’s Leave a Light On burst onto the scene. The song was Tom Walker’s first big hit, storming into the top 10 of charts across Europe and going on to become certified platinum in multiple countries - and double platinum in the UK and Italy.

Rereleasing the single Just You and I - first released as an acoustic track in 2017 - a month after the release of What a Time to be Alive brought further success, as the song went on to reach number three in the UK Singles charts.

These successes would go on to grant Tom awards recognition as well, as the artist took home the Best Breakthrough Act at the 2019 Brit Awards. Leave a Light On was also nominated for Best British Single.

Tom Walker will play at the Strathpeffer Pavilion (doors open at 7pm) on Friday and The Loft, Forres (doors open at 7.30pm) on Saturday. Tickets for both nights are sold out. For more info, go to www.iamtomwalker.com