Student performs at Arts Centre with Joe O’Donnell

21-year-old Warwick University student Lewis J. Smith performed at the Warwick Arts Centre on Sunday 27 April along with Joe O’Donnell.

Originally from Leeds, Lewis was described by Beth Elfyn from BBC 6 Music and Amazing Radio as ‘a brilliant young singer-songwriter’. Elfyn also branded Lewis’s song ‘Possum Trot’ as record of the week on her ‘Amazing Radio’ show in January.

He was accompanied by a full live band including violin, trumpet, piano, and backing vocals at his performance on April 27. He said of them: “They’re amazing musicians and close friends so it was nice getting to spend time working on things together.”

Lewis first began his music career organising concerts when he was 15. He then started concentrating on his own music when he moved to University and began writing his own material.

Lewis has played across various venues in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire and even London but this is the first time he performed at the Warwick Arts Centre.

He told the Boar how it was a great experience: “It was nice having a friendly, attentive audience, great sound technicians and, of course, a Steinway piano for Charlotte [one of the band members] to play on.”

He continued: “I’ve volunteered at the Arts Centre for the last 4 years, so it was nice to be on the other side of the curtain.”

Lewis plans to record a new EP this summer and explained how he’d like to incorporate music into his career at some point in the future.

His EP, released on 2 December 2013, is available to download and listen on Spotify, iTunes, Deezer and Amazon.