Despite still being a teenager, Sunderland-based newcomer Tom A. Smith has already achieved more than most artists do in a lifetime. He played his first ever gig aged just eight, supporting local psychedelic rockers Detroit Social Club at legendary Newcastle venue The Cluny, he performed at Glastonbury before he was even in secondary school, and Tim Burgess handpicked him to play his stage at Kendal Calling, making him the festival’s youngest ever performer.  He has played live with local hero Sam Fender and supported Catfish & The Bottlemen, as well as other Northern acts on the rise like The Lathums and The Mysterines. 

Tom has also supported other big names such as Elton John & Billy Bragg and he’s appeared on Soccer AM performing alongside Miles Kane. Following a summer full of festival appearances.

Tom joins Tim for a chat outside the iconic Dreamland Cinema in Margate and walks along the beach talking about his early beginnings, from picking up the guitar at the age of 4 through to the fantastic year he has had touring and bringing out new material.

Tom's website and links to his music and socials https://www.tomasmithmusic.com

Recorded at Margate, Kent, December 2023

Youtube Video Version: https://youtu.be/yrvlXzZWsgM

David Ippolito is an American singer-songwriter and playwright. He has self-released eight albums and is best known for his weekly summer performances in Central Park. In 1992, David first performed an impromptu concert on a hill in Central Park in front of a small audience. Among those present was editor Jack Rosenthal from The New York Times, who the next day published an editorial about the performance. The next week, David played again, and began to gather a following. Since then, he has performed on a hill near a rowboat lake almost every summer weekend to crowds of passers-by and regulars, including international tourists, and has become a cult figure in New York. David talks to Tim about his early battles with drink and drugs and how he found himself playing the guitar and singing in Central Park.

In a special extended 2 part special David walks Tim through the sites and sounds of Central Park in New York, as he works on his new venture as a playwright and screenwriter.

Next step Broadway and Hollywood!

Davids site: http://www.thatguitarman.com

David Ippolito is an American singer-songwriter and playwright. He has self-released eight albums and is best known for his weekly summer performances in Central Park. In 1992, David first performed an impromptu concert on a hill in Central Park in front of a small audience. Among those present was editor Jack Rosenthal from The New York Times, who the next day published an editorial about the performance. The next week, David played again, and began to gather a following. Since then, he has performed on a hill near a rowboat lake almost every summer weekend to crowds of passers-by and regulars, including international tourists, and has become a cult figure in New York.

David talks to Tim about his early battles with drink and drugs and how he found himself playing the guitar and singing in Central Park. In a special extended 2 part special David walks Tim through the sites and sounds of Central Park in New York, as he works on his new venture as a playwright and screenwriter. Next step: Broadway and Hollywood!

Davids site: http://www.thatguitarman.com