SAM FENDER // ST JAMES' PARK, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

This Weekend saw Sam Fender put on two epic hometown shows at Newcastle’s St James’ Park Stadium with some special guests.

★★★★★ (5/5)

SAM FENDER PERFORMING AT NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE’S ST JAMES’ PARK
PHOTOCREDIT: CALUM BUCHAN

This weekend’s shows saw some special support slots from likes of Hector Garnet, Ernie, Wundehorse and Main Support slots from the brilliant Inhaler (on Friday) and Holly Humberstone (on Saturday) who also supported on Friday’s show before Inhaler.

Brilliant sets from all supports, managed to catch Holly Humberstone on Saturday and really just got Newcastle crowd going especially performing in NUFC outfit which really made the crowd be interested in her set. Holly Humberstone performed number tracks off her debut album “Can You Afford To Lose Me?” she signed to same record label as Sam Fender so this was great opportunity for her to reach bigger audience but crowd had already knew some of her songs which she performed during both days sets. Set included her well known tracks such as Scarlett, Falling Asleep At The Wheel, The Deep End and The Walls Are Way Too Thin.

Crowd absolute loved her. Looking forward to see what’s next for Holly Humberstone one day she may end playing her local stadium in years to come.

Previously on Friday seen Irish upcoming rockers ‘Inhaler’ perform as main support set for Sam Fender. Frontman ‘Elijah Hewson’ well known for being U2’s frontman ‘Bono’ is definitely starting to follow in footsteps of his father by playing their first ever stadium show and especially away from their hometown of Ireland.

Inhaler managed to pour in great number sized crowd on Friday which seen crowd really going for their set. Kicking off their set with These Are The Days the crowd were already singing along to their music and jumping around, some were even crowd surfacing or shoulders.

Their set continue to prove why their one of greatest hottest bands around right now on the music scene performing music from their debut album ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’ and their new album release ‘Cuts & Bruises’ Inhaler had few belters under the rift for the Newcastle crowd. The crowd were loving If You’re Gonna Break My Heart, and their track Love Will Get You There from their new album. Before ending their set with My Honest Face.

Inhaler certainly on course start headlining stadiums themselves and following in footsteps of U2. It was shame Inhaler couldn’t support Saturday show as well but certainly won’t be complaining it was great weekend for them opening up for Sam Fender on Friday to then opening up for Harry Styles at Slane Castle in Ireland next day.

Now for main act everyone is here to see… Surrounded by 52,000 screaming fans each night bellowing out the “Toon Army” chant and waving NUFC Flags, Fender took to the stage firing straight into Will We Talk? and Getting Started. Fender was clearly ecstatic to be back on home turf and joked “six years ago we joked about playing St James Park’… here we’re six years later”.

Launching into the Dead Boys Fender dedicated the track to “all the ones that couldn’t make it tonight from his hometown” while thousands of phones lit up the stadium.

Fender allowed the audience to catch their breath with Mantra followed by epic cover of I’m On Fire by Fenders’ hero “Bruce Springsteen” and to make even more special he bought on his brother ‘Liam Fender’ to perform the cover track with him which home crowd absolute loved.

This epic moment then followed by The Borders which is Fenders absolute favourite track from his debut album which is about spending time up in Borders of Scotland in his childhood and made even special for Scottish fans who were in stadium there was small crowd at barrier on Friday night with Scottish flag.

Then set started to pick up with crowd getting rowdy for Spice & Howden Aldi Death Queue which saw the crowd go crazy and stadium being filled with pyro flames throughout. Before slowing down with Spit Of You which Fender dedicated to his father and performing nice happy track ‘Alright’.

It next part of the show which left the home crowd gobsmacked which seen Local hero and frontman of one of the greatest rock n roll bands of all time Brian Johnson came onto stage to perform two of ACDC’s absolute classics Back In Black and You Shook Me All Night Long which seen thousands and thousands of phones out in crowd as crowd witnessed one of best moments ever. Sam Fender seemed very buzzing to have one of his heroes on stage and performing two epic tracks which must felt dream come true to him. There was rumours flying around someone would be appearing a lot people thought might been Bruce Springsteen who is one fenders heroes who he managed open up for as support at Springsteen’s Italy shows but wasn’t the case.

There was also rumours Ant & Dec or Alan Shearer may came on stage but didn’t happen either but all three were pictured in crowd across the two days.

After the epic moment Fender played his debut single ‘Playing God’ which must felt like epic moment which kicked off his career back at Surf Café in Tynemouth where he was career began back 2014. He ended his main set with The Dying Light which seen crowd echo the stadium with row of lights.

It must be noted that throughout the night Fender was closely watching the crowd and paused the show several times to assist security. At one point he asked for everyone to “take a step back” to make sure those at the front had enough room. Also assist with medical incidents in the crowd.

CROWD AT SAM FENDER’S ST JAMES PARK IN NEWCASTLE
PHOTOCREDIT: CALUM BUCHAN

The biggest moments of the night were easily during the encore. First up Sam Fender appeared back on stage after brief break to start singing Happy Birthday to Tom Ungerer on Bass in his backing band which crowd absolute loved doing. Probably was goosebump moment for Tom as well especially with being sang in St James’ Park.

Encore then moved to Fenders newest track ‘Wild Grey Ocean’ which he released last year as part of his live performance album at Finsbury Park in London which was another huge moment of Fenders career so far. Then came fan favourites Saturday which seen the crowd belting out “If Saturday don’t come soon. I’m gonna lose my mind”. Then up next was biggest hit single Seventeen Going Under which was also title of his sophomore album and also became a viral sensation on Tik Tok. This had the crowd bellowing the lyrics “I was far too scared to hit him, but I would hit him in a heartbeat now.” Closing the night with his biggest song, Hypersonic Missiles had the crowd going completely mad.

As always Sam Fender knows how to put on an incredible show and I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Geordie star. But this was truly a moment in history which will never be forgotten. Just makes you start wondering what’s next for Sam Fender… Maybe headlining Glastonbury, Wembley Stadium or Murrayfield Stadium.

Catch Sam Fender next headline TRNSMT Festival next month at Glasgow Green which will also another massive moment in his career so far before he heads to Reading and Leeds festivals in August to headline sets there to.