A ‘Good Time’ at Tom Odell!

Friday 22^nd May 2026, Good Times Live Chipping Sodbury

Welcome

Hi! Welcome to my blog. I’m Caitlin. I’m 20 and a creative writing student. I started this blog as a way for me to keep up with my writing practice and basically yap about the fun things I have planned this summer. If you’re interested in concerts, travel, and general fangirl things, you might want to keep reading!

I’m also an ambulatory wheelchair user. I have Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, PoTS, and endometriosis. I’ll be sharing how these conditions affect my life while I do all these things, and some tips on how I get the most out of the things that I do manage for those who might relate.

What is Good Times Live?

Good Times Live is a little-known festival that takes place in Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire. Just outside of Bristol, it originally started out at Yate Town Football Club in 2024, before moving to The Ridings in Chipping Sodbury.

Good Times has welcomed big names such as McFly and Billy Ocean in previous years and is growing rapidly and set to return next year. This year they hit an attendance rate of over 32,000 people, including a sold-out crowd of 8,000 for Madness.

Good Times also hosts other live entertainment like DJ sets and comedy performances. This year’s lineup also included stars such as Jessie J, The Human League, and Emeli Sandé. Their Friday headliner was one of my favourite artists, Tom Odell.

Getting ready

Tickets were easy to buy, I bought them online (always my preference, but uncommon for accessible tickets) in January when they went on sale.

Getting ready was so much easier for this concert than I’m used to. This was because it was extremely local! From my partner’s house it was less than 10 minutes which was so handy as the journey usually wipes me out a bit. So, this time I felt better going into it. Even with the heat and coming straight off the back of a trip to Alton Towers earlier in the week. If it had been anywhere else, it would have been out of the question for me, but this was manageable.

The concert

I did want to try and catch some of Matt Maltese’s (the opener) set, but unfortunately, I took too long getting ready and we arrived just after he finished.

On the way in, security was quick and easy, and staff were helpful and directed us towards the accessible raised viewing platform. The terrain was a bit bumpy, but quite well pathed for a festival (certainly better than our experience at Reading Festival last year)! It was also handy that there was a toilet at the back of the platform, meaning it was very easy to get to.

We found a great spot in the second row on the platform, and the view was much better than I expected! We also got the chance to watch a gorgeous sunset, behind the big wheel.

Tom Odell came on stage at 9pm, and we got to see the sky darken gradually throughout the show, and the lights on stage take full effect.

This was my second time seeing Tom Odell perform live, and it was just as good as the first time! My partner and I both agreed that he is the kind of artist that we could keep going to see over and over again, just because he is that good (especially considering his ticket prices are quite affordable too).

He has a great stage presence and plays the piano like it’s the easiest thing in the world. It is mind-blowing to watch! I’ve been a fan for many years now, and his stuff never gets boring. I got the opportunity to meet Tom at an album signing event last year, and he was lovely.

He has some brilliant songs that are little known, and I highly recommend that you start listening to him if you don’t already!

His setlist was great and his performances, as always, were raw, emotional, and beautiful! He played fifteen songs, including most of his hits, like ‘Black Friday’, ‘Heal’, and his smash-hit ‘Another Love’.

I was also excited to hear a few songs I hadn’t heard him play before! I was very happy to hear ‘Don’t Cry, Put Your Head on My Shoulder’ which is one of my favourite songs from his latest album ‘Wonderful Life’, and wasn’t played at my show on the album tour!

For me, a ranking of his best performances at this show would be:

Can’t Pretend (if you listen to one song after this article, make it this, and the live version!)
I Know
Don’t Let Me Go
Black Friday
Another Love
Heal

We got some amazing photos (courtesy of my wonderful photographer boyfriend, follow @alfie_gendall_media on Instagram for more photos from Good Times Live, and Motorsport photography)!

We also had a lovely lady come up to us with photos that she had taken of us during Tom’s performance!

After the concert

When the concert finished, we checked out the merch stands, which included artist merchandise, Good Times Live merchandise (partnered with Goose and Gander), and G&G’s own stand too. Of course, I had to get a picture with the giant inflatable goose too.

I bought the Good Times Live x Goose and Gander hoodie, which is so cute and was surprisingly affordable for concert merch these days, at £45.

After that, our journey home was quick and easy, which meant I could rest a lot more than is typical after a concert, and I didn’t crash the same way that I usually would which was nice. It’s nice to be able to enjoy something that I like, without having to pay for it afterwards.

It was an amazing concert. I miss it already, but I also know that it won’t be long until I’m back in my element! I’ll be back at Wembley in less than two weeks for Mr Harry Styles. I am so so so excited! Keep an eye out for a post about that in June.

Thanks for reading and follow my social media for more content! Including more photos and videos from the concert!😊

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