Written & Photographed – Dan Rose
On 14th July 2023, multi-genre singer-songwriter Teddy Swims performed one of his tour dates at Birmingham’s O2 Academy.
Since attracting over 400 million views by the end of 2022 on his YouTube covers, he has also released three EPs and one album thus far, with his upcoming album entitled ‘I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1)’ being released fully in September 2023.
During the evening, fans were treated to one support act called ‘Azure Ryder’, an Australian musician who currently resides in London. This gig had a really chilled atmosphere throughout the evening, with a variety of fans from all ages who had travelled to see the talent that is Teddy perform live. Accompanied by a band, the American artist graced the staged and performed barefoot throughout his set, something I’ve never seen before in real life. Swims, also known as Jaten Dimsdale, performed an array of his popular cover songs such as Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still The One’, showcasing his incredible vocal range. Gig-goers who had purchased merch before the show often threw items on stage for Teddy to sign, which he did often during his set and had a Sharpie at the ready to sign away. He tried his very best to ensure the correct merchandise went back to its respectable owner.
Teddy Swims is such a down to earth and humble individual, so much so that he would often interact with fans in the crowd and even stopped the show when he noticed his fans were in distress. He also admirably made sure everyone on the floor was okay and rehydrated with water. Some of my favourite songs performed during his set include: ‘Bed On Fire’, ‘Someone Who Loved You’ and ‘Simple Things’ but, honestly, the entire setlist was amazing. If you ever get the opportunity to see Teddy Swims perform live, I wholeheartedly recommend doing so, as his voice is just as perfect witnessed live as it is on record.
Words & Photos by Dan Rose
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