Eurovision singer Sam Ryder said it was “amazing” to sing in front of hundreds of fans who flocked to see him perform in a series of homecoming gigs.<\/p>\n
Essex-born Ryder, whose track Space Man finished second in the 2022 song contest<\/a>, performed in Chelmsford on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n He planned to also perform in Colchester, where he studied as a youngster, and his hometown Maldon in the afternoon.<\/p>\n “It was amazing just coming home and playing places I haven’t played in a long time,” he told BBC Essex.<\/p>\n “Last time I played in Chelmsford, there was no-one there but I still loved it.<\/p>\n “That’s where you learn your craft and earn your stripes and now I’m stood out the front of where I used to flick through old records and vinyls, just singing to people. It’s moving.”<\/p>\n The last-minute performances, announced on Tuesday, come ahead of the launch of Ryder’s new album in October.<\/p>\n Holly Boosey watched the performance with her children [Elliot Deady\/BBC]<\/p>\n Holly Boosey travelled with her children from nearby Braintree to watch Ryder.<\/p>\n “He’s an icon and he’s represented our country,” she said as she waited for the singer to arrive in Chelmsford High Street.<\/p>\n “We’re really lucky to come from a county that’s got a lot of talented people, Sam being one of them, Olly Murs being another one.<\/p>\n “It’s amazing that we’ve got a lot of good homegrown people that put Essex on the map for a good reason.”<\/p>\n Sue Nicoll and Sharon Alderton were pleased to be in the city centre for the performance [Elliot Deady\/BBC]<\/p>\n Friends Sue Nicoll and Sharon Alderton had not planned to see the performance but were pleased to see a “local boy done good”.<\/p>\n “We were meeting for coffee and I knew Sam Ryder was playing in town so I thought we’d come and have a look,” Ms Nicoll said.<\/p>\n She said she was grateful to Ryder for changing perceptions of Essex people<\/a>: “It’s more than just white stilettos and there’s a lot of talent in Essex.”<\/p>\n Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
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