Tom Odell to Headline Friday at Good Times Live 2026
There’s something quite special about placing a stadium-filling artist in the heart of a small market town. Asking him not to scale up, but to lean into our special community. This May bank holiday, Tom Odell will do exactly that as he headlines Friday night at Good Times Live 2026 in Chipping Sodbury.
Since the breakthrough of “Another Love”, a song that has transcended charts to become a cultural touchstone for a generation, Tom Odell has built a catalogue defined by unflinching emotional honesty. Tracks like “Black Friday” and his seventh album, A Wonderful Life, reveal an artist unwilling to hide behind polish. Instead, he leans into fragility – exploring mental health, human disconnection, tenderness and hope with a starkness that feels almost conversational.
That fearlessness has earned him multiple Ivor Novello nominations and a global following, but statistics barely scratch the surface. What truly defines Tom Odell is the atmosphere he creates in a room. His live performances aren’t built on spectacle; they’re built on stillness, tension and release. Sometimes soft – sometimes rock.
Renowned for turning live shows into deeply emotional, immersive experiences, Tom Odell now brings that same intensity and warmth to the Good Times Live stage. While he is more than accustomed to selling out 20,000-capacity arenas and stadiums worldwide, this performance will see him step into a far more intimate environment – offering the Good Times Live community a rare chance to experience one of the UK’s most powerful songwriters up close, at the peak of his creative powers.
Festival Director James Murden has described the booking as “incredibly special”, pointing to the alignment between Odell’s ethos and the festival’s core values of authenticity and community. It’s easy to see why. There’s a natural symmetry between an artist who strips everything back and an event that prioritises connection over capacity.
Adding further depth to Friday night are Matt Maltese – master of lush piano arrangements and wry, quintessentially British lyricism – and rising artist Hugo Helmet. Together, they shape an opening evening rooted in songwriting craft and emotional weight.
Beyond Friday, Good Times Live 2026 offers a tightly curated mix of music, comedy and family fun. Headline sets from The Human League, Jessie J, Madness and
Emeli Sandé span generations and genres, while Andy Day leads a dedicated family day and Russell Howard brings sharp-edged comedy to the bill.
Rooted firmly in its surroundings, the festival continues to be shaped by the support of the local community – from Chipping Sodbury to Wotton-under-Edge, Wickwar and beyond – helping create a space where music, memory and shared experience intertwine.
With demand already surging, Good Times Live 2026 is set to be one of the standout weekends to kickstart your summer. Secure your tickets now at GoodTimesLive.co.uk.
COMPETITION TIME!
FOR A CHANCE TO WIN 2 TICKETS, SIMPLY CLICK THIS LINK AND ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION CORRECTLY.
Tom Odell may be headlining Friday night at Good Times Live – but which Friday has he famously written about?
A) Blue Friday
B) Green Friday
C) Black Friday
Entries close Friday, 15TH MARCH 2026. GOOD LUCK!