A popular Derby restaurant is helping to nurture local musical talent after discovering a young busker on the city streets. The manager of COSMO Derby, Sid Panday, first heard Liam Hulmes performing during his commute to work. Impressed by his strong vocals and natural talent, he invited the singer to perform at the restaurant's annual birthday event.
Sid said: "That was five years ago now, and Liam has been a regular ever since." The venue has now chosen Liam to officially launch its new acoustic music evenings.
"I feel incredibly honoured," said the talented 25-year-old musician. "The team has supported me from the very beginning and I'm genuinely grateful for every opportunity they've given me. Playing at the restaurant was one of my first bigger gigs and really helped build my confidence as an artist. Since then, it's opened the door to more bookings and exciting opportunities."
Liam revealed that the supportive venue helped him through a difficult period with his music. He said: "There was a period where I stepped away from music, but getting back on stage here reignited my passion. I'm now writing my own songs and recently reached more than 500,000 views on TikTok in just a month, with 11,000 at one time, which has been amazing."
He plays a vibrant mix of original songs and popular covers, including music by Ed Sheeran. The global superstar even left a comment of praise on a social media post of Liam covering one of his tracks.
Restaurant manager Sid Panday has recently been nominated for a civic award by former mayor, Councillor Ged Potter. It recognises his longstanding support for charitable initiatives, including providing venues for community fundraising. Over the past 12 years, the venue has raised thousands of pounds for important local causes and community projects. Initiatives include heavily discounted meals to fund projects in Kenya and delivering free food to local hospice staff.
The restaurant is actively looking for more local performers to share the spotlight in the future. Sid said: "For the sake of variety, we are always on the lookout for other talented musicians in the city to perform with us." He added: "We want to support local, up-and-coming talent. We can see Liam is going places and we are honoured to be part of his journey."
