Craig David: Portsmouth Sail Grand Prix will be “a homecoming”

From selling out The O2 to commanding some of the world's biggest festival stages, Craig David has spent more than two decades creating unforgettable live moments.

Now, the music legend is gearing up to return to the south coast - where it all began - to headline the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth.

The Southampton-born singer-songwriter tops the bill for Sunday’s Après-Sail entertainment programme, closing out a weekend that combines high-speed action with live music.

And for the multi-platinum artist, performing just a stone's throw from the places that shaped his childhood will make the occasion even more meaningful.

"Every time I'm around the south coast, it brings back so many memories of growing up there," he says. "I spent a lot of time in Southsea with my friends, hanging out on the pier. We used to go to the Portsmouth Pyramids swimming pool, spend time by the water and just be kids."

Those early years didn't just give David lifelong memories. They also helped lay the foundations for one of British music's most enduring careers.

"The south coast definitely shaped me," he explains. "I had the space to grow up naturally, even while music was my passion. There were loads of times my friends would be going out to play football and I'd stay home to finish a song. Eventually those songs became Walking Away, Fill Me In and Seven Days."

Having experienced SailGP for the first time at the 2025 Season opener in Dubai, David knows what to expect when he steps onto the stage in Portsmouth. But it wasn't just the high-speed racing that caught his attention - it was the combination of elite sport, entertainment and the huge team effort happening behind the scenes.

"What stood out was how SailGP brings sport and entertainment together," he says. "You've got these incredible F50s racing, then this whole immersive experience around it, finishing with live music.

“It feels like you get everything in one ticket. I think Portsmouth will have that same energy, but with even more of a homecoming feeling for me."

David also found himself drawn to the work happening behind the scenes: watching teams prepare their F50s reminded him of life on tour.

"You realise it's not just about the driver. It's the whole team behind them,” he says. “The preparation, the coordination, everything that makes it happen.

"I've got a lot of respect for that because it's exactly the same in music. People see me on stage, but there's management, production, tour crew and riggers. Everyone has a role to play and none of it happens without them."

David is one half of a star-studded entertainment line-up at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth, with pop sensation Jess Glynne taking to the stage on Saturday to perform hits including Hold My Hand, I’ll Be There and Rather Be.

Fans can expect plenty of energy when David takes to the stage on Sunday with his iconic TS5 show - a DJ-led performance that blends his biggest hits with club classics and the spontaneous energy of a live party.

Unlike a traditional arena concert, the open-air Race Stadium setting puts fans closer to the action, creating an atmosphere where there’s no barrier between the performer and the crowd. It’s about as close as fans can get to one of the UK’s biggest artists without being in the front row of a stadium show.

With the performance taking place outdoors by the waterfront, the atmosphere will be shaped by the setting itself - and, fingers crossed, some classic south coast sunshine. Asked which song he'll never leave off a setlist, the answer comes without hesitation.

"Seven Days has to be in there in some form," he says with a trademark grin.

More than 25 years after first making his mark, David is still creating moments that bring generations together - something he hopes to continue when he returns to the south coast later this month.

"To come back all these years later and perform in this capacity is really special," he says. "There's a part of me that still feels like the kid thinking, 'Who would have thought this?'"

Want to see Craig David live in Portsmouth? Secure your ticket and experience a weekend of world-class racing, live entertainment and unforgettable moments on the waterfront.