IT'S been a big year for Southampton singer songwriter Seán McGowan

There was a main stage appearance at Common People among a host of big summer festival shows.

2017 saw him sign his first record deal. The Joiners’ favourite joined Xtra Mile Recordings, home of Hampshire star Frank Turner plus other troubadours like Will Varley, Skinny Lister and Sam Duckworth, this summer.

His debut EP Graft & Grief was released last week to critical and audience acclaim and a full band five date headline tour, big shows in five of the UK's biggest cities, is well under way.

The tour ends with the largest headline show of his career to date, a very close to sold out hometown show at The Loft tomorrow night.

Seán told the Daily Echo: "Stepping up to the main stage at a festival like Common People is a statement of intent, whether you intend on making a statement or not!

"I think it kind of validated me. I've been doing this for seven years now and since January, when I started talking to the label, everything's been going nuts! A bunch of things have happened in a short space of time, so we've got the momentum and it just keeps on snowballing. I'm still skint, but I'm loving it!

"It's been mad starting to get the reviews in for the EP. Once you've finished recording it. you've done the best you can and you put your trust in the marketing guys. The next time you hear about it is when you start getting Tweets and that can go one of two ways. So far it's all good and it seems to be resonating with people.

"All of this is a massive step up. My favourite review was that he got us thinking, now he's got us dancing. For me that's the biggest compliment anyone can pay me. I'm just so pleased people are getting it.

"It's going to absolutely mental at The Loft, just amazing. I never thought any of this would happen to me.

"It's equally daunting and exciting, but like being busy and it's good having a purpose. Otherwise I just sit in my pants playing FIFA all day!"

The show will feature everything from the new EP, including the tracks Costa Del Solution, Now Show and Apple Core, as well as a selection of favourites from across Seán's back catalogue.

Over the past seven years, Seán has been steadily building up his now considerable fan base by being near a constant force on the touring circuit as well as supporting Billy Bragg and performing packed out slots at Glastonbury and The Great Escape.

Raised on a diet of The Clash, The Jam, Specials, Billy Bragg and other such politically-charged, punk-ignited British pop, the 24-year-old previously self-released two slices of teenage Southampton life.

Very limited tickets for the show remain at seetickets.com