A San Francisco crowd got more than they bargained for. Sam Smith surprised fans with special guest Sienna Spiro during their “To Be Free: San Francisco” residency at the Castro Theatre, a run of rare, up-close performances ringing in the venue’s reopening after two years of renovations.
Alongside Sam’s biggest hits and previews of unreleased songs, fans were treated to a stunning duet version of Sienna’s breakout hit “Die On This Hill.” The moment closed a full circle for the duo, who first shared a stage when Sienna opened six nights of Sam’s “To Be Free: New York City” residency in late 2025, performing an unforgettable duet of Sam’s “Lay Me Down.”
Sienna Spiro is having a genuine moment. At just 20 years old, she’s found a global audience with cinematic, soulful, timeless yet subtly modern songs, and especially with her jaw-dropping live performances. Her first-ever North American headlining run, “The Visitor Tour,” kicked off at the Troubadour in Hollywood to rave reviews, with Variety calling the performance thrilling and tipping her as one of the greatest voices of her generation. The tour sold out within seconds, with extra dates added due to demand, and wrapped with back-to-back nights at New York’s Bowery Ballroom. Her single “The Visitor” is out now via Capitol Records.
Sam’s San Francisco residency continues the “To Be Free: New York City” series, which began in October at Brooklyn’s historic Warsaw club and extended through December due to overwhelming demand. The intimate run follows their single “To Be Free,” praised by The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Stereogum, and more, a track exploring how vulnerability can unlock bravery and freedom, featuring vocals by The TwoCity Chorus.