Tom Odell is a man of many talents - he’s headlined festivals, taken home a collection of musical accolades and throughout his career, has consistently gone out of his way to make people fall in love with him through his beautiful lyrics and his gorgeous liveability. 

In some ways Tom Odell is an unlikely star for the main stage of Electric Picnic. The first thing that many listeners notice is what an accomplished pianist he is – while he’s accompanied by a three-piece band here you could easily see him holding a crowd’s attention on a solo tour. It’s a real skill to keep a crowd energised from behind a grand piano, especially when your most recent album features some sparsely produced tracks.

Kicking things off with 'Heal', Odell gave the slower song a more dramatic conclusion to get the crowd moving, slamming the keys on his grand piano with intensity.

Tom Odell at Electric Picnic. Photos by Liam Murphy/Hot Press

"And tell me some things heal" he continued to scream louder, amping up the growing main stage audience. Following another rip-roaring rendition of one of his slower songs 'Can't Pretend', Odell stops to take a breath and finally address the crowd.

Visibly excited and stumbling over over his words, Odell tells us how thrilled he is to be here, and that Electric Picnic is "the best festival in the world". Then, to seemingly reward us adoring onlookers, he treats us to the first live rendition of his unreleased song 'Black Friday', a touching gentle song that explores self-doubt in a relationship.

Although he can lead the crowd with just a piano, there is more potency in the clashing cymbals, jazzy guitar riffs and signautre blues beats in songs like 'Fighting Fire With Fire' and 'Son of an Only Child'.

In a show of the performer's seemingly endless positivity, Odell even encourages everyone to "give someone you love a hug now and tell them you love them" during a particularly moving rendition of 'Hold Me'.

Tom Odell at Electric Picnic 2023. Photos by Liam Murphy/Hot Press

The show ends on Another Love, and although it’s the last song, the crowd sings with enthusiasm as if it were the very first. In yet another touching moment, Odell dedicates the song to Rory Deegan, a 23 year old Laois native that tragically passed away in Greece this summer. "Maybe if we all sing it loud enough he'll hear us" Odell declares, to honorous cheers from the crowd.

It is not often that an artist can consistently captivate an audience for over an hour while barely moving, but Odell manages to keep the energy high, even in his much slower ballads.

Through a medley of many of his greatest hits, Odell manages to thoroughly dominate Electric Picnic's main stage.