Sam Smith won four Grammys recently and his debut album has shot back to the top of the ARIA charts. But other than fans at a sold-out Riverstage on Saturday, who knew Smith was even in Brisbane?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
One Direction and the Foo Fighters have sold-out Suncorp Stadium this year, each bringing with them days of carnival-like anticipation.
Ed Sheeran packed out Riverstage three times in one weekend, with his devoted fans unfazed by torrid weather conditions.
Yet the level of hype is different for English soul singer Sam Smith - a man who cleaned up at the Grammys in his first attempt, taking out the coveted Record of the Year category.
While he may not get the headlines, Smith seems destined for very big things. An understated class sets him apart from other chart-toppers, and his ability to capture and hold the crowd's attention for an entire show is remarkable.
Somehow he does this without appearing to get out of second gear.
"Oh my God. Today is the first ever gig I've ever done in Australia," Smith proclaims a couple of songs in.
He's bending the truth - Smith played at Byron Bay's Splendour in the Grass festival last year - but it's the kind of thing the crowd wants to hear.
They also want to hear tracks from Smith's award-winning debut album, In The Lonely Hour. Smith doesn't disappoint, delivering his mix of ballads and falsetto-filled soul anthems with the help of eight session musicians.
His tracks I'm Not The Only One, Like I Can, Lay Me Down are well received. The crowd - a mix of screaming tweens, older couples and everyone in between - break into dance when Restart is played.
Smith doesn't engage in much audience banter, but likes to explain the relevance of certain songs. They're usually about some kind of heartbreak, or in the case of Money On My Mind, his determination to produce music for his audience, not a pay cheque. It's all rather serious coming from a 22-year-old.
The crowd erupts when Smith returns for the encore with Latch, a song which catapulted him to fame in 2012 thanks to a collaboration with electronic dance duo Disclosure.
But this version isn't a dance track. It's slower, more heartfelt. Thousands begin waving their smartphones in the air and by the end Smith looks genuinely touched.
"This has truly been the most incredible start to a tour I've ever had," Smith says.
He plays one more song before finishing with his signature tune, Stay With Me.
It's a fitting end, and as the 75-minute set concludes, the sense amongst the punters is that they wished he stayed a little longer.
