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Ezra has gradually snuck up on everybody as one of Britain’s most reliable and successful international exports of the last decade. With three UK number 1 albums now under his belt, he’s never skipped a beat, with every full length album he’s released grabbing the top spot. His song “Shotgun” from previous album Staying At Tamara’s hardly needs any introduction either, being George’s first No.1 single in the UK, it also went to No.1 in Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, cementing the singer-songwriter’s star power across the world.

His latest album Gold Rush Kid has not given up on this ambition either. Rather than going for something a little different or leaning into more introspective inspiration for his third album, the pop tycoon kept the recipe familiar, attending to the classic reasoning of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” and writing another boppy pop record built for summer bbq’s and kids playgrounds. What kind of playground has a PA system? I don’t know, but if there is one, it’s playing George Ezra’s “Green Green Grass“.

Wherever you stand on George’s tunes, one has to admit that he has a knack for effusive melodies that stick in your ears for weeks. Its no wonder then that this time honoured method has paid off with the kind of shows he gets to put on these days. Last night he sold 45 thousand tickets for his largest headline show to date at Finsbury Park, with big acts in their own rights supporting him like London’s International Gospel Choir, Mychelle, The Big Moon, Holly Humberstone, Mimi Webb, and Blossoms, it made for an event that was basically a music festival. It was such a massive show, that the arena dates he’s just added to his UK tour will look slim in comparison, of course they are not, but it will be interesting to see how much bigger this whole thing can get. Gig on the moon anyone?

You can catch George’s remaining UK live dates here:

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The shows will see him play Glasgow’s OVO Hydro Arena on the 13th, 14th, 16th, and 17th of December this year at the end of his UK tour. The tour will begin in October with two back to back shows at Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse on the 22nd and 23rd, before heading to London for two shows at Alexandra Palace on the 25th and 26th, and then heading all over the country through Birmingham (28th), Hull (29th), Edinburgh (31st), and Aberdeen (1st November). You can find all the details and tickets here.

With a name that belies his origins, Paolo has come a long way from the small town of Paisley in Scotland where he grew up. Despite now being a chart-topping troubadour and national favourite, the singer was once expected to follow his fathers footsteps into the family fish and chip shop business, before being encouraged to sing by his music loving grandfather and a teacher from his school who recognised his gift.

4 albums later and Paolo is somewhat of a national treasure in the UK, particularly in Scotland where he enjoys icon like status. However the 8 years it’s taken to make and release his latest effort hasn’t been without adversity, at times it’s been fraught with difficult self reflection and turbulence, with it’s title Last Night In The Bittersweet being an ode to his desire to escape those periods. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Paolo explained: “There was a long period of life for me that could have been defined as bittersweet. The juxtaposition between the ups and the downs was really quick. It wasn’t in terms of my career, just emotionally”, he continued: “I think I became very content in that rhythm and I guess there was a point where I sought to move out of that and become a happier person. I’m still in the process, but it was a conscious attempt to figure out what was causing that and to try and conquer that“.

Now he seems more content, having recharged his batteries and gained some perspective, he seems delighted and grateful to be returning to the stage. Speaking of the lockdown and the liberation being unleashed on the world once again, Paulo said “the past two years, watching how it’s affected everybody, that social shutdown, it made me think that it is a real privilege to go out and communicate with people on such a scale. And to have the outlet of release that performing on a stage can give. I get the tunes out there and I already feel a bit lighter, but it’s not just that; you’re giving other people a good buzz and a good kick. It’s a good feeling. It makes you feel like you’re doing something right.”

Well we can only hope (and expect) that he will be giving those lucky enough to catch him at Glasgow’s Ovo Hyrdo Arena later in the year a good buzz too. Welcome back Paolo.

October 22nd, 23rd 2022 – O2 Victoria Warehouse – Manchester

October 25th, 26th – Alexandra Palace – London

October 28th – O2 ACADEMY 1 – Birmingham

October 29th – Bonus Arena – Hull

October 31st – O2 Academy – Edinburgh

November 1st – Music Hall – Aberdeen

December 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th – OVO Hydro Arena – Glasgow