Walsall Arena hosts Jorja Smith for first Spotify Hometown show
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Walsall residents, local creatives and community organisations were placed at the heart of a weekend of music and creativity as Walsall-born artist Jorja Smith celebrated her roots with a special homecoming performance.
The internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter performed at Walsall Arena on Sunday 6 September as part of Spotify Hometown, a new live music series connecting artists with the places and communities that helped shape them.
Walsall was the first of three locations to host a Spotify Hometown show, providing an opportunity to showcase the borough, its communities and Walsall Arena on a national platform.
Jorja’s performance was recorded with a full concert film to land on Spotify within the next couple of weeks, meaning that anybody not lucky enough to be in the room on the night will be able to watch it back and enjoy it for themselves.
Over the years, Walsall Arena has been home to thousands of performances and events, from live music and concerts to stage shows and community events. Hosting Spotify Hometown provided another opportunity to showcase the venue and Walsall’s growing cultural offer.
“ It was fantastic to see Walsall come together for such a special weekend, celebrating our community, our creativity and the incredible talent we have right here in the borough.
Hosting Jorja Smith at Walsall Arena was a brilliant moment for Walsall and a wonderful opportunity to welcome people to our borough for such a significant event. It was particularly special to see the wider programme giving something back to the community, bringing local creatives, organisations and young talent together and giving them a platform to connect and be celebrated.
This reflects the heart of our wider We Are Walsall 2040 vision: creating opportunities, celebrating our local talent, and building lasting pride in the place we call home. “
“ It was a real privilege to host Jorja Smith for such a special hometown performance at Walsall Arena.
The Arena has a proud history of bringing live music and entertainment to the heart of the borough, and hosting an artist of Jorja’s calibre alongside Spotify was a fantastic opportunity to showcase what our venue and Walsall have to offer.
To have Spotify choose Walsall alongside cities such as Manchester and London is a significant moment for the borough, helping to put Walsall on the map as a destination for live music and major events. “
Made in Walsall
Ahead of Sunday’s performance, Spotify Hometown Presents: Made in Walsall took place at The New Art Gallery Walsall on Saturday 5 September.
Presented in collaboration with The Blue Lights Choir as part of Spotify’s Hometown series with Jorja Smith, the event brought together local artists, change makers and community organisations, with the aim of strengthening connections and networks across the borough.
The weekend supports the ambitions of We Are Walsall 2040, the borough’s long-term vision, including creating a Walsall where people are proud of the place they call home.
The vision recognises the importance of Walsall’s communities, culture and local identity, alongside creating opportunities for people and promoting the borough as a place to live, work, visit and invest.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
We Are Walsall 2040 is a collective vision, bringing residents, businesses, and organisations together to create a borough where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive. Partners include Walsall Council, West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service, Walsall College, WHG (Walsall Housing Group), One Walsall, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, the University of Wolverhampton, Walsall Together, Walsall for All, and Walsall Football Club.
The ambitions of We Are Walsall 2040 are shaped by 10,000 voices, including residents, businesses, and organisations, who shared their views about how they want Walsall to look and be like in 2040 and beyond.
To find out more about We Are Walsall 2040, please visit https://wearewalsall2040.walsall.gov.uk/
To find out more about What’s on in Walsall please visit, What’s On Walsall – September 2026 | Walsall Council
