Luton pop star Myles Smith has revealed he is hoping to perform the first concert at Luton Town’s new Power Court stadium when it opens – and has already been lobbying a Hatter who is one of the music industry’s most powerful figures.
The singer-songwriter, who returned to his hometown on Monday for a day-long celebration ahead of the release of his debut album, ‘My Mess, My Life, My Heart’, said he has has repeatedly raised the idea with Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer, who is also a director on the 2020 board that runs the club.
The stadium is due to open in time for the 2028/29 season and Smith believes it would be the perfect venue for a landmark hometown performance.
Talking to the BBC about Luton’s new stadium, Smith said: “I’ve been messaging Rob Stringer so much saying ‘Let me open it.'”
Stringer, one of the most influential executives in global music, and brought pop star Harry Styles to Kenilworth Road in 2023, during Town’s Premier League season, to watch the Hatters against the former One Direction singer’s beloved Manchester United.
“I don’t even know if he knows if I’m a player or a singer sometimes,” Smith joked of his conversations with of the Sony Music mogul.
Two years ago, when the football club unveiled its detailed plans for their new 25,000-seater stadium in the heart of the town centre, they included scope for the stadium itself to host up to three major music events a year over the summer period, alongside a 1,800-capacity music venue, which will come after the sporting arena is completed.
The plans stated: “The target is to ensure that the stadium functions as a destination for a range of events that are scalable and cater for different segments of the local community, extending the range of stadium uses beyond simply football.”
Smith has already sold out the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena in London, where he’ll play in November, and earlier this month, he had Wembley Stadium singing his ‘Stargazing’ hit back to him, as he made an appearance on Capital FM’s Summertime Ball.
While Smith is an Arsenal fan, he retains a fondness for his hometown team. He and he band wore Hatters shirts when he made his festival debut two years ago on BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Luton’s Stockwood Park.
In March, he included Luton’s Kenilworth Road stadium among the locations featured in a recent promotional video announcing his debut album, ‘My Mess, My Heart, My Life’, after performing a pop-up show in the Hat District. And he also has had a limited edition Luton vinyl version of his record made in the colours of the football club.
The 28-year-old has frequently spoken about his affection for the town itself and during his performance in St George’s Square on Monday he told the thousands of Lutonians watching: “This really is home”.
His ambition to open Power Court comes as his career continues to reach new heights. Smith is about to embark on his third world tour, having accumulated over four-billion streams, winning the BRITs Rising Star award and enjoying international success with songs including ‘Stargazing’, ‘Nice To Meet You’ and ‘Drive Safe’, his recent collaboration with former One Direction star Niall Horan.
With the Power Court stadium just starting to emerge from the ground, there is still some time before it is built and plans are made for the first events that will be held there. But Smith has made it clear that if he gets his way, the Luton-born artist will be first in line when the lights come on at the club’s new home.
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