Eurovision star Sam Ryder delighted fans in his hometown of Maldon yesterday as part of a special three-stop tour across Essex, performing impromptu concerts to "show a bit of love" to the county that shaped his musical journey.
The acclaimed singer-songwriter, best known for his hit "Space Man," chose three locations that held deep personal significance - starting in Chelmsford where he attended St John Payne secondary school, then moving to Maldon where he was born, before concluding at Culver Square in Colchester.
Speaking exclusively about his decision to perform in these Essex locations, Ryder explained : "I wanted to pick the three places that meant the most to me growing up and were pivotal." He described Maldon as speaking for itself as his birthplace, while Chelmsford represented his formative teenage years of first love and heartbreak.
The pop-up performances, announced just a night prior on Instagram, drew unexpectedly large crowds at each venue.
"I thought it was going to be a handful of people, but it's just crazy, every place we've been it's just shut it down," Ryder admitted, expressing his amazement at the turnout.
The surprise tour serves as promotion for his upcoming second studio album "Heartland," set for release on October 17, and his headline show at Wembley Arena on November 6.
The singer hinted at future plans to further support Essex's creative arts scene, describing the county as "so rich in what it offers for music."
Share