Josie Oliver, a 24-year-old singer-songwriter from Stone, Staffordshire, is set to perform as an opening act for Sam Smith at the London Coliseum on September 16. Oliver was one of 10 emerging artists selected to open for Smith during their upcoming residency shows in Manchester and London.
Oliver shared that she discovered the competition, a joint effort by Sam Smith and BBC Introducing, after her mother saw it and suggested she would be a good fit. "I just thought it was never going to happen but I did it anyway," Oliver told BBC Radio Stoke. She described her disbelief upon receiving the confirmation email, stating she had to check its authenticity multiple times.
The opportunity is particularly significant for Oliver, an unsigned artist. "It's such an incredible opportunity. I'm so excited," she said, emphasizing the value of such a platform for emerging musicians. Previously, Oliver performed in pubs as a teenager and was a familiar sight busking in Stoke-on-Trent city centre. This upcoming performance marks a significant step in her musical career.