Say Hello to Tommy Atkins, The Fresh Face of UK Queer Country

Meet the Rising Star In A Video Exclusive for CQ

By Dale Henry Geist

I was reading my emails recently when I came upon this: “My name’s Tommy Atkins and I’m a gay country music artist based in the UK.” I get a lot of emails from new artists, and though there’s not enough room in our calendar to write them all up, I always check out their music.

I was surprised and impressed. Here was this (adorable) fresh-faced British guy making straight-up Nashville-style country – and it was good. As it happens, new as he is, the rest of the world is already onto him. He put out his first single, “Wild In the Wind,” less than a year ago, and it made the Top Ten on iTunes in New Zealand and the U.K. Four months later he was named Male Artist of the Year at the U.K. Country Listener’s Choice Awards. His follow-up single, “Cindarella’s Had a Drink,” also hit the top of the charts in the UK and New Zealand. And just over a month ago, he released his cover of Wham!’s 1984 hit “Freedom,” which has also been climbing the charts.

But I don’t need to tell you about Tommy. He’ll do it himself. He’s made a video exclusively for you, the Country Queer reader. Check it out:

You can find out more about Tommy, with links to his music and videos, at http://www.tommyatkinsmusic.com