Gerry Cinnamon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gerry Cinnamon
Cinnamon performing in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Gerard Crosbie
Born	(1984-10-01) 1 October 1984 (age 40) Glasgow, Scotland
Genres	Indie rock indie folk folk rock anti-folk
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar harmonica
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Little Runaway Music GC Music
Associated acts	The LaFontaines

Gerard Crosbie (born on October 1, 1984), known as Gerry Cinnamon, is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is famous for his acoustic songs and for singing in the Glaswegian dialect.

In 2020, his second album, The Bonny, became number one on the UK Albums Chart. It was also one of the best-selling albums released in the UK that year.

Gerry's Music Journey

Early Life and First Steps

Gerry grew up in Castlemilk, a part of Glasgow, Scotland. As a child, he listened to music from his mom's cassette tapes. He enjoyed bands like The Rolling Stones, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Beatles. He also liked Oasis and The La's, and admired Bob Dylan.

When he was a teenager, Gerry spent some time in London. There, he learned to play the guitar and harmonica very well. When he returned to Scotland, he started writing his own songs. Music became a big part of his life.

Gerry later met Chris Marshall, a music producer from his neighborhood. They started working together, with Gerry writing the lyrics. They formed a band called The Cinnamons and released a five-song collection in 2010. Gerry then started performing alone, using the name Gerry Cinnamon. Some of his later songs, like "Sometimes," came from this early band time.

He found a place to perform his songs at an open mic night in Glasgow. These nights became very popular, helping him gain fans.

Growing Popularity

By 2014, Gerry was selling out small shows just by word of mouth and social media. He was asked to write a song for a big event in George Square before the Scottish independence vote. His song, "Hope Over Fear," became a single and helped more people discover his music. However, he did not want to be seen as a political leader.

In 2015, Gerry supported musician John Power on tour. He also released another song called "Kampfire Vampire." He performed at the T in the Park festival, which was a dream come true for him.

He played at T in the Park again in 2016. Even though his performance was early on a Friday, many fans came to watch him. In October 2016, he won the 'Best Live Act' award at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards.

In November, Gerry headlined a show at Glasgow's O2 ABC Glasgow. He promoted it with just one message on Facebook, and it sold out! He later supported Ocean Colour Scene at a big show in Glasgow.

First Album Success

In July 2017, Gerry performed at the TRNSMT festival in Glasgow. He played to a large and excited crowd. In September, he released his first album, Erratic Cinematic. Fans helped fund this album through a platform called PledgeMusic. The album quickly reached number one on the UK iTunes chart for singer-songwriters.

After his album came out, he announced a show at the famous Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow. He added a second date because tickets sold out so fast. This was a big achievement for an artist not signed to a major record label. He even earned a spot in the 'Barrowland Hall of Fame.'

In October, he received a "Great Scot Award" for entertainment. In December, it was announced he would return to TRNSMT in 2018, this time on the main stage.

Gerry also spoke out against websites that resold concert tickets for much higher prices. He wanted fans to get tickets at fair prices. After his main stage performance at TRNSMT 2018, his first album also entered the Scottish Albums Chart.

Big Tours and New Music

In early 2018, Gerry went on a sold-out tour across Scotland, Britain, and Ireland. Some of his shows moved to bigger venues because so many people wanted to see him.

In June 2018, his performance slot at the TRNSMT festival was moved to a later, more important time. He also played at other festivals like RiZE Festival and Tartan Heart Festival. He announced more shows in Glasgow for December, which also sold out quickly. He continued to tour, supporting bands like The Courteeners and then starting his own tours in England and Ireland.

In January 2019, Gerry played two shows in Amsterdam. He was also announced as a main stage performer for TRNSMT in July 2019. He joined the lineup for many other big festivals that summer, including Benicàssim, Isle of Wight, Kendal Calling, Y Not, and Glastonbury Festival.

In July 2019, it was announced that Gerry would play at the new P&J Live venue in Aberdeen. This show broke the record for the highest attendance at a Scottish indoor event, with 15,000 people. He also played two shows at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow. His arena tour across England and Ireland sold out all 125,000 tickets. In December, Gerry supported Liam Gallagher on his tour in Australia and played his own shows there too.

The Bonny Album and Stadium Shows

In November 2019, Gerry announced his second album, The Bonny, would be released on April 17, 2020. He released it on his own record label, Little Runaway. Along with the album news, Gerry shared that he would play his biggest show ever at Hampden Park, a stadium that holds over 50,000 people. He was the first Scottish artist to headline the national stadium. Tickets sold out in just a few hours.

The Bonny album debuted at number one on both the UK and Irish album charts. It was also the fastest-selling vinyl album of 2020 and one of the top-selling UK albums released that year.

Gerry had planned to tour the United States for the first time in 2020, but many shows were moved to 2021 due to the global pandemic. He played at the Reading and Leeds Festival in August 2021.

Recent Performances

In 2021 and 2022, Gerry played his biggest shows yet. His UK and Ireland tour, which was rescheduled from 2020, included shows at large arenas and outdoor venues. He headlined at Swansea's Singleton Park, which was the second-biggest show ever in that city. He also set a record by selling out three headline shows at Belsonic in Belfast, playing to over 60,000 fans.

The tour ended with two homecoming shows at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Playing to over 100,000 people, Gerry Cinnamon became the first independent artist and the first Scot to sell out multiple nights at the national stadium.

Gerry's Thoughts on Music

Gerry Cinnamon believes in artists who work hard and create real music. He encourages new musicians to believe in themselves, even if they don't have a lot of money or support from big companies. He has said that he is in music because he wants to challenge those who he feels are not genuine. He believes that if you are a working-class musician who loves songwriting, you have a duty to get involved and make real music.

Music Releases

Studio Albums

Live Albums

Popular Songs (Singles)

Other Certified Songs