Eurovision star Sam Ryder to perform free surprise gig in London this Friday
The Eurovision star will pop-up in an unknown Greene King pub this Friday!
Spaceman Sam Ryder is performing a free gig in London this Friday (8th August).
The Eurovision icon, will surprise punters at a Greene King pub in the capital, totally for free. The only catch, the location is a secret!
The secret performance comes just as Greene King announces it has appointed Sam Ryder as its ‘Head of Gigs’.
The pub chain wants to increase punters access to live music by finding the country’s best grassroots talent this summer.
As part of the role, Sam will surprise customers at one Greene King pub for a one-off headline performance in London.
This is part of the UK’s biggest pub gig ever, with nearly 800 acts playing in pubs across the UK all on one day (Friday 8 August).
2 in 5 (47%) people from London missed out on live music last year due to high ticket prices - a figure that jumps to 64% among 21 to 24-year-olds across the UK.
Among those who did attend, 23% of people from London had cut back on essentials to afford a ticket, while 20% spent more on live music than on a monthly household bill.
As Greene King Pubs’ research reveals that ticket prices have soared to an average of £100, Brits are calling for more affordable live music and better access to local events. Yet, over a third remain unaware of live music events in their local area.
As part of its commitment to ensuring everyone can access free live music this summer, Greene King Pubs is celebrating grassroots live music across the UK by launching Greene King Untapped.
The competition, which is sponsored by Jack Daniel's and Coca-Cola, is open to solo artists, bands, duos and anyone with a passion for playing live music, they will perform at either:
Anchor - Bankside (Southwark)
Adam & Eve (St James)
Assembly House (Kentish Town)
City of Quebec (Marylebone)
George (Southwark)
Hope & Anchor (Islington)
Junction (Clapham Junction)
Kings Head (Tooting)
Leather Bottle (Merton)
New Explorer (London)
North London Tavern (Kilburn)
Prince of Wales (Covent Garden)
Prince of Wales (Wimbledon)
Raynes Park Tavern (Raynes Park)
Victoria (Victoria)
Ascott (Pinner)
Nags Head (Welling)
Greene King Untapped’s winner will win a performance slot at the Pub in the Park 2026 festival, along with a £10,000 cash prize and a recording session at the renowned Metropolis Studios sponsored by Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola.
Having launched his early career performing in pubs and as an advocate for grassroots music, Sam Ryder said: "Playing in pubs and smaller venues was where it all started for me, with intimate venues, borrowed PA systems, and a handful of pub-goers who might become fans. Grassroots music is at the heartbeat of the scene and those early gigs shaped who I am as an artist. These spaces allow live music to be an experience available to everyone, that’s why they’re so important, and I’m stoked to be a part of the team helping to keep that alive!”