By Tom Marshall
The stage was set, long queues all the way out Utilita Arena in Newcastle, eagerly waiting for Sam Fender.
The opening act, GoatGirl, outlandish support for the Geordie headliner, still enthused the crowd in a way like no other.
After the interval, the lights went dim, and the famous black and white of Newcastle United were all to be seen around the arena with flags being waved by fans and family beyond the barrier.
Sam comes on and goes straight into “Will We Talk?” The crowd was somewhat subdued for the first few songs, with no apparent rowdiness from the off.
Getting Started was the second song performed, and although it didn’t have the same effect as the London show, it was still a great live performance of the tune.
A few songs later, my personal favourite “Spice” is performed, just after Fender instigated several moshpits within the crowd. The song quickly stopped after the first chorus for some unnecessary pushing which security promptly dealt with.
The muted palm strums of the opening of “Play God” start to ring out and the crowd erupts. Sam Fender brings his older brother Liam onto the stage for the piano ballad “The Dying Light” from his sophomore album, “Seventeen Going Under”.
Sam Fender quickly mocks the encore “process” before leaving the stage for the said encore.
“Saturday” is quickly played which blasts through the audience and moshpits are initiated. The title track of his second album is played and the crowd erupts as no other crowd has previously erupted before, his most listened to song is finally performed and the main hook of the song is sung over and over and over again.
Sam Fender closes the set with the song that made him what he is today, which is announced by himself, Hypersonic Missiles is finally performed which is sung and played with precision. Sam Fender leaves the stage after waving at the crowd.
The crowd and punters of the concert were heard singing the song’s main hook all the way out of the arena for the city to hear.
Sam Fender will only get bigger and better after his second album. Will he be performing on his own stadium tour soon? Definitely.
