Thomas McConnell

Thomas McConnell

Thomas McConnell is a singer-songwriter from the United Kingdom, born in 1993 in Liverpool. He grows up in Newcastle upon Tyne before returning to Liverpool in 2009. He is associated with the Liverpool music scene and performs as a multi-instrumentalist.

Music and style

His songs draw on British pop and rock from the 1960s and 1970s. They are described as melodic and catchy, with a quirky and experimental edge. He also creates his own artwork.

Releases

His debut EP and title single, Stop in the Shade, are released in 2012. He later puts out Worried About Thomas McConnell, a four-track EP that receives positive reviews. He also has a secret Beatles covers album made for tourists and fans to find at Beatles-related locations during the summer.

Beatles-related work

McConnell has a strong connection with the music of the Beatles. Ian McNabb asks him to arrange, produce and play all the instruments on a cover of the Beatles song All I’ve Got to Do, which is commissioned and featured in Mojo magazine. He also records a cover of Paul McCartney’s New, which spreads widely online after Brian Ray tweets about it and Paul McCartney shares it on his official social media accounts.

Live work and collaborations

He completes a UK tour promoting Worried About Thomas McConnell, supporting Ian McNabb and Brighton band The Vinyls. In 2012, China Crisis hand-pick him to support them on their anniversary tour. He also supports Ian McNabb on another tour and provides backing vocals for Ian Prowse’s version of Bruce Springsteen’s Rosalita on a charity single.

Reception and airplay

His music receives airplay on BBC Radio Merseyside, BBC 6 Music and several online stations. His SoundCloud set of ten songs reaches nearly 30,000 plays and attracts more than 2,600 followers. He is also praised by Ian McNabb and by writers at The Active Listener and Seven Streets.

Profile and public interest

He gains attention through a publicity campaign for his EP, in which people post photos online holding signs saying they are worried about him. He is also selected as a model for Beatwear, a Liverpool clothing shop with a Beatles theme. He has a number of interviews and local internet TV appearances.