Tom A. Smith to headline The Gathering Sounds festival

Singer-songwriter Tom A. Smith will headline The Gathering Sounds in Stockton-on-Tees, performing at the Georgian Theatre on Saturday, September 26.

He leads a second wave of emerging artists set to take the stage at the grassroots festival, which spans multiple venues across the town centre.

He said: “Absolutely buzzing to tell you I’m headlining our stage in The Georgian Theatre for The Gathering Sounds Festival.

“Organiser Jimmy Beck was one of the first people to look out for me and it’s really important to me that we fill that room and that people come down to see all of the amazing new music they’ve curated.”

The Sunderland musician, who is in his early 20s, has already shared stages with major acts like Elton John, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Courteeners and Miles Kane.

He has also become a regular favourite of BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and Radio X.

Also announced in the latest wave are Glasgow post-punk band Humour, Leeds alternative group Bloodworm and Manchester indie duo Fletchr Fletchr.

They join previously revealed acts including overpass, Basht., TTSSFU, Good Health Good Wealth, M60, Shelf Lives, Charlie Floyd, Swindled and Daisy Brown.

The festival will once again take over venues including KU, ARC, The Georgian Theatre, The Link, The Social Room and The Green.

It has earned a reputation for supporting artists before their big breakthrough, with past lineups featuring early appearances from acts such as The K’s, Lottery Winners, Sports Team, Sophie and the Giants and The Royston Club.

Other newly announced artists include Pyncher, Pack of Animals, The Kowloons, Andrew Johnson & The Others, Central Arcade, Honeylight, Park View, Strop and Weathership.

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Jordan Kean, from The Gathering Sounds, said: “Tom has been part of the Gathering Sounds story almost from the beginning.

“To have him back headlining one of our stages feels like a real full-circle moment.

“Around him we’ve assembled another group of artists we genuinely believe are going to have huge futures.

“That’s what Gathering Sounds is all about.”

Additional acts are still to be announced in the coming months.

For tickets and more information, visit thegatheringsounds.co.uk.