\n One fan is the multi-talented and multi-layered Tom Robinson – a well-respected musician and singer-songwriter currently celebrating 50 years in the music business.\n<\/p>\n
\n His Then and Now UK tour is a master class in connecting with fans – old and new.\n<\/p>\n
\n His setlist features classic songs from his career ranging from the punk period to his present day status as broadcaster and craftsman.\n<\/p>\n
\n He is joined on stage by fellow musician Adam Phillips who has been playing alongside Tom for the past 31 years and it shows.\n<\/p>\n
\n And Tom has always supported up and coming talent. On this trek he has the accomplished Gabrielle Sey with him.\n<\/p>\n
\n A real voice to listen out for and she offers some sublime acoustic guitar playing.\n<\/p>\n
\n Tom and Adam have great chemistry with the latter singing his own version of the James Taylor composition Frozen Man.\n<\/p>\n
\n Each of the two and three quarter hour shows will display Tom’s self-effacing sense of humour and that is central to his warm and friendly concerts.\n<\/p>\n
\n He talks fondly of the early successes and his sexuality.\n<\/p>\n
\n Tom broke down barriers with his sing-along anthem Glad to be gay.\n<\/p>\n
\n He spoke of the media intrusion when he fell in love with a woman and married.\n<\/p>\n
\n Tom is one of those performers who connects the moment he takes to the stage, His two act set (sitting down due to a hernia) covered so much ground from the opener Boom Time through to Atmospherics and the beautiful War Baby and, of course, his greatest hit 2-4-6-8 Motorway.\n<\/p>\n
\n He played a Beatles song that he said meant a lot to him the Lennon song You’ve got to hide your love away.\n<\/p>\n
\n And Tom – a lover of Liverpool – paid tribute to Brian Patten the Mersey Poet who sadly passed away this week.\n<\/p>\n
\n It was a moving moment when he read a short Patten poem and remembered a happy night with Adrian Henri all those years ago.\n<\/p>\n
\n There were snippets of fun, too, about fellow ’70s luminaries still going strong Don McLean and Ralph McTell.\n<\/p>\n
\n And he performed a song about the opera singer Caruso that was simply spine tingly in its delivery.\n<\/p>\n
\n There was also a ballad he had co-written with Elton John – called simply Elton’s Song.\n<\/p>\n
\n Tom spoke of playing the Empire in the 70s when his fans were over zealous and the show was abandoned.\n<\/p>\n
\n Kinks front man Ray Davies also had a name check.\n<\/p>\n
\n There were other fabulous stories peppered throughout including playing to the Eton School Assembly when he performed a song called Yuppie Scum.\n<\/p>\n
\n Seeing Tom in concert is like catching up with an old friend. He closed with Too good to be true and the audience participation favourite, Martin, about brotherly love.\n<\/p>\n
\n At 75 his voice is a distinctive as ever and he clearly loves the chance to be out there playing live again.\n<\/p>\n
\n Here’s to you Mr Robinson . . . Glad to be grey, indeed.\n<\/p>\n
\n It’s been fun growing old with you. Come back soon.\n<\/p>\n