Luton pop star Myles Smith thanked his hometown for supporting his journey from Leagrave schoolboy to global music sensation as thousands of fans turned out for a day-long takeover of the town ahead of the release of his debut album and a world tour.
The singer-songwriter returned to Luton yesterday for a celebration that saw streets, businesses and even the town’s railway station temporarily renamed in his honour and activities for kids at Tennyson Road Primary School, before culminating in a packed performance in St George’s Square and a final appearance at the Sugar Loaf pub in New Town.
Addressing the crowd in the town centre, Smith reflected on how far he has come since growing up in Luton.
“I grew up not too far away in Leagrave. I’m so happy to be home with you guys,” he said.
“You’ve given me the opportunity to tour the world three times and I’m about to do it again. Before I left I wanted to come and say ‘hi’ to you.”
For Smith, whose music has amassed over four-billion streams worldwide and whose debut album ‘My Mess, My Heart, My Life’ is released on Friday, the event was as much about thanking Luton as it was promoting a new record.
“It’s really awesome to see such familiar faces in the crowd. This really is home,” he told fans from the stage in St George’s Square.
“I want to say thank you to everyone for coming out. I know it’s not easy coming straight from school and work but you chose to be here with me today and I really appreciate that.”
Moments later, during a vocal break in his performance of ‘Gold’, he shouted: “I love you Luton.”
The emotional connection between artist and audience was evident throughout a set that included ‘River’, ‘Nice To Meet You’, ‘Drive Safe’, ‘Gold’, ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’ and global hit ‘Stargazing’.
Before launching into the final song, Smith reflected on the journey that had taken him from local schools to international stages.
“It’s been such a long journey from growing up in Leagrave, going to Pirton Hill, then Lealands, sixth form and to where I am now,” he said.
“It’s been such an incredible journey and for anyone that aspires to do more and wants to go further, I’m proof that you can do it. So keep your head down and work really frickin’ hard and hopefully I’ll see you on this stage soon.”
The performance produced one of the day’s standout moments when Smith stopped ‘Stargazing’ midway through after spotting Shawn, the young fan who joined him on stage during his surprise Hat District pop-up performance earlier this year.
After recognising him in the crowd, Smith invited him back on stage for another rendition, prompting cheers from those gathered in the square, who also joined in belting out the lyrics.
The town takeover had begun hours earlier at Luton railway station, which had been temporarily renamed “Myles End”, where commuters and fans were greeted with complimentary coffee.
New Town Street became “Myles Street”, Langley Place became “Myles Place” and Seymour Avenue fish and chip shop Mr Chips was transformed into “Myles Fish & Chips”, with visitors queuing around the block for free food and drinks.
Elsewhere, fans enjoyed a football-themed event at Tennyson Road School, free haircuts at First Class Stylists on Marsh Road and an album signing appearance by Smith at HMV in the town’s shopping centre.
The celebrations eventually returned to New Town, where crowds stretched around the block outside the Sugar Loaf pub, where Smith played in his youth and spent many weekends there. Many were unable to get inside the packed venue, where Smith had arranged free drinks before making a brief appearance to meet supporters.
Speaking to the BBC during his visit, Smith said that despite his growing fame, Luton remains one of the few places where he can still live a normal life.
“No matter how famous” he becomes, he said, the town remains somewhere he can “just be normal”.
He added that he can still walk around Luton without being mobbed by crowds, describing it as “the most humbling and best feeling in the world”.
“There’s not been a lot of musicians come out of Luton. So to, you know, be one of the few, it feels really good,” he said.
“To have the whole town come behind me feels amazing.”
For a few hours on a sunny Monday, much of the town did exactly that.
From Leagrave to New Town and from the train station to St George’s Square, Luton turned out to celebrate one of its own before he heads back out on another world tour.
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