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LIVE REVIEW
SAM FENDER
ST.JAMES PARK NEWCASTLE
10/06/23
Born and raised in North Shields and a dedicated Newcastle United fan, Sam Fender has long dreamt of playing on the hallowed ground of the pitch at St. James Park, Newcastle United's home ground.
Now, just 4 years since the release of his debut album ' Hypersonic Missiles' in 2019, the North East singer has managed to achieve his dream. With a two date sell out weekend, Sam Fender and his band played to tens of thousands of hometown fans. From special effects to special guests, find out how it went in our review of the Saturday show.
Now, just 4 years since the release of his debut album ' Hypersonic Missiles' in 2019, the North East singer has managed to achieve his dream. With a two date sell out weekend, Sam Fender and his band played to tens of thousands of hometown fans. From special effects to special guests, find out how it went in our review of the Saturday show.
Reviewer - Matthew Weddle.
Wow, what an event it was. Sam Fender made history at Newcastle’s St James’ Park, being the first Geordie to perform at the much-loved venue. With a superb line-up of support acts including local lad Ernie, Holly Humberstone and Wunderhorse, the energy in the stadium was brewing, as had the beer.
With Sam’s time to set the house on fire approaching, the audience warmed their vocal cords to hit songs "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes, "Hey Jude", as well as local favourites "Fog on the Tyne" by Lindisfarne and "Coming Home Newcastle". Fans were finally greeted with a live rendition of "Local Hero" before Sam and the lads took to the stage, kicking off with "Will We Talk?" and "Getting Started." The crowd was certainly not disheartened.
Eager to discover who the awaited ‘North-East Legends’ were, Newcastle did not have to wait long to find out one of them. Performing a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s "I’m on Fire", Sam was joined by his older brother Liam who was a big force in shaping his career. Sam stated, "I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for him…he got me into the music that I listen to." In a similar vein of family, he proudly addressed his mother in between songs, saying "we’ve made it," to which the audience cheered. Sam throughout the concert also remarked how "unreal" an experience it was playing at his home football ground and how much he was enjoying performing to his home crowd.
With Sam’s time to set the house on fire approaching, the audience warmed their vocal cords to hit songs "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes, "Hey Jude", as well as local favourites "Fog on the Tyne" by Lindisfarne and "Coming Home Newcastle". Fans were finally greeted with a live rendition of "Local Hero" before Sam and the lads took to the stage, kicking off with "Will We Talk?" and "Getting Started." The crowd was certainly not disheartened.
Eager to discover who the awaited ‘North-East Legends’ were, Newcastle did not have to wait long to find out one of them. Performing a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s "I’m on Fire", Sam was joined by his older brother Liam who was a big force in shaping his career. Sam stated, "I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for him…he got me into the music that I listen to." In a similar vein of family, he proudly addressed his mother in between songs, saying "we’ve made it," to which the audience cheered. Sam throughout the concert also remarked how "unreal" an experience it was playing at his home football ground and how much he was enjoying performing to his home crowd.
Now well underway, a stream of fan favourites, including "Howden Aldi Death Queue" which really got the audience going, was followed by "Get You Down" and "Spit of You". And then, at this point, an already great concert got even better. Brian Johnson, lead singer of AC/DC, took to the St. James’ Park stage, causing the crowd to go wild. Along with Sam Fender's guitar teacher, Phil Martin, they well and truly rocked the house with "Back in Black" and "You Shook Me All Night Long", which featured various lighting and fire effects.
An electric atmosphere permeated the stadium the longer the show lasted, reaching its climax with the song "Seventeen Going Under". Before the song had started, fans were chanting the trademark "oh, oh" hook line. Upon finishing the critically acclaimed track, the Newcastle crowd did not and sung their hearts out, repeating the "oh, oh" hook line for several minutes to the amazement and joy of Sam Fender and the lads.
So, Sam Fender, we’ll be seeing you back next year?
An electric atmosphere permeated the stadium the longer the show lasted, reaching its climax with the song "Seventeen Going Under". Before the song had started, fans were chanting the trademark "oh, oh" hook line. Upon finishing the critically acclaimed track, the Newcastle crowd did not and sung their hearts out, repeating the "oh, oh" hook line for several minutes to the amazement and joy of Sam Fender and the lads.
So, Sam Fender, we’ll be seeing you back next year?