By Sal Wilcox
2017 was a massive year for native Newcastle lad Sam Fender. After residing as the dark horse of the Newcastle beat for years, renowned for being a reserved, yet firm favourite at the iconic Tynemouth Surfcafe, Fender has sky-rocketed into the pedigree tier of the indie scene.
Within a year, the boy next door has gone from playing the occasional gig in Newcastle to becoming the new indie ‘It Kid’. Fender’s music possesses a wholesome yet suave charm, driven by an endearing sense of cynicism expressed with a poignant soulfulness and a glimmer tongue and cheek humour. It’s poetic, yet accessible – the kind of music that you can appreciate how cleverly it has been crafted whilst just wanting to dance and sing along to it.
He’s taken his killer tunes to shows and festivals across the continent and supported the likes of Bear’s Den, Declan McKenna, VANT, before ending the year with a sold-out gig at Riverside.
Fender released four singles in 2017; ‘Play God’, Start Again’, ‘Greasy Spoon’, and ‘Millennial’, all of which achieved critical acclaim across the UK, establishing a unique brand of indie-rock characterised by witty lyrics, ambient day-dream harmonies and bold, sating drops that radiate a colossal energy.
In February he is hitting the road for his debut headline tour, playing nine dates: Manchester, Cardiff, Exeter, Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Glasgow, Truro and Bristol. You can also catch him in May at Neighbourhood Weekender Festival in Warrington.
Sam is opening ‘This is Tomorrow’ Festival, playing alongside the likes of Catfish and the Bottlemen, Everything Everything and fellow Geordies Little Comets.
It’s a sure bet that 2018 will be a monumental year for Sam Fender – keep your eyes peeled for our review of his multi-award winning platinum album.
