Local singer/songwriter Tom Speight performed a 'hometown show' at Kingston Christmas Market last weekend for Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week. 

Taking place 1-7 December annually, Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week aims to increase understanding and raise funds for inflammatory bowel disease research. Crohn's is a lifelong autoimmune disease which can have periods of good health (remission) and relapses (when the condition is 'active'). 

Speaking after the gig, Tom said: "These aren't normal gigs that I would do. We played for two hours a night [on Friday and Sunday]. I get to talk at those gigs for hours and explain about Crohn's and say come grab a CD or a vinyl the proceeds will go to Crohn's and Colitis UK. " 

On the phone, Tom says he has just been for a hospital appointment for an infusion. He goes once every six weeks to sit on a chair and have medicine given to him through a drip. "But tomorrow I'm doing a writing session," he tells me.  

First diagnosed when he was 19 years old at university, Tom says it's "something he's learned how to live with". 

"It's shaped my work ethic...you've just got to work extra hard in case you do get ill and have to take time off," he says. "So, I've constantly been working ahead of schedule." 

"I've never wanted Crohn's to define me," Tom explains. "I try and take the positives. I just wanted to focus on getting better and focus on my music. 

Tom began his music career supporting acts such as Ed Sheeran, Ben Howard, Travis and Keane with record labels eager to sign him. After discovering he had Crohn's in 2014, Tom underwent a major operation and spent two months in Kingston Hospital.  

"Even when I was in recovery, I was still writing a lot of songs and making sure I was using music as an escapism," he said.  

Speaking on his creative process, Tom says he tends to write about things happening to him or close to his heart.  

"My latest album was inspired by writing songs to people as if it was just for them," he explains. "Everything I was writing about was universal themes so you could see it relating to other people.  

"All I want with my songs is to mean something to someone, for them to connect with it as a listener." 

Born at Kingston Hospital, growing up in Hampton Wick and then moving to Teddington, you could say the 35-year-old is born and bred South West London.   

Although he no longer lives locally, Tom says he always try and do as much as he can with the local community as he finds these events a lot of fun and "wholesome". He has recently performed at Teddington Lights Up as well as Kingston Christmas Market.

"It's just nice to meet people in the local area," he says. 

During a busy time with performing in different towns and cities, Tom managed to find time to schedule the local gigs in-between touring.  

Speaking on why he likes his hometown shows Tom says: "It's kind of cool in the sense that people who I haven't seen for a long time be like 'Oh I'm coming to see you' or if they've got kids [they want to bring]." He added his old college lecturer even came to Teddington Lights Up.  

Reflecting on the Kingston Christmas Market gig, he says: "They were brilliant, really busy and great turnout. It was amazing that people stayed for the whole duration of the two hours completely in the rain." 

Even though Tom is no longer with Kingston Hospital anymore, he often works with Banquet Records and his family still live locally. He says this neck of the woods is "very much part of my life".  

Days after the launch of his latest album in August this year, Tom performed to 400-500 people at Kingston's All Saints Church (thanks to Banquet Records).  

"It was one of my favourite gigs," Tom says. "It's just nice to meet people in the local area." 

He speaks about Banquet records with such fondness, saying: "I think Banquet is keeping Kingston alive with the music scene. 

"When I was growing up there was more venues you could play in Kingston. A lot of them have disappeared like a lot of music industries along the way because it's so expensive to keep live things going these days. 

"We should be really grateful for Banquet to bring some of the biggest artists to Kingston. 

"Jon [Tolley], the owner, he's like a force of nature in the best possible way." 

So, what does 2024 hold? Tom says he needs to take stock.  

"We did about a hundred gigs this year; I worked out I did 26 in 30 days," he says. "It was getting a bit much to be honest." 

He says wants to work out which direction to go next after his last album was only released four months ago. "Maybe write some more songs for this next album," he says.  

"It's been so busy with gig and whatnot for the last three-four months. I've not had many days off. 

"It's been good to be busy with the last couple of years so can't complain." 

You can purchase 'Love & Light' at Banquet Records here. 

Find out more about Crohn's and Colitis including a quick symptoms test and support here.