Dan Whitlam

Dan Whitlam folds spoken word into rap, pairing a warm, soul-leaning voice with tight, narrative writing. First noticed for short pieces on TikTok that sketch the lives of people in their twenties, he has built a live language that pushes those stories further, shifting between confessional verses and rhythmic flows. On 20 October 2026 at Gorilla in Manchester, he brings his debut album Strangers (Again) to the stage with a full live band, widening the palette and giving the tracks new depth and movement.

Rooted in everyday scenes and the thresholds of early adulthood, his lyrics trace friendships, relationships, flat shares, work, and wider social pressure points with a close eye for detail. The band setting highlights the contrasts in his music: spoken word passages slide into melodic hooks, and intimate moments open onto grooves that carry the narrative forward. From online clips to BBC radio spots and tours across the UK and Europe, Whitlam has shaped a set that sits between poetry reading and hip-hop show, clear in its storytelling and deliberate in its dynamics.