I’d almost forgotten what it was like to wake up to ringing ears, tired legs and an aching back. And that’s just life on being 30. After a wait that has felt like an eternity, last night saw live music finally welcomed back in to the lives of thousands of gleaming faces once more, to huge effect. Most gigs will always feel special but this one felt all the more affecting due to the pandemic and previously rescheduled shows meaning it would have been almost two years since the show was originally planned.

Taking to the stage promptly at 9:15pm, Sam Fender wasted no time in raising the roof to a rapturous applause that echoed around the hall as he kicked off with Will We Talk? from his debut record.

The hits soon came thick and fast as Dead Boys' poignantly gritty, unprocessed lyrics added further emotion to the night before Johnny 'Blue hat' Davis emerged for All Is On My Side with his silk-smooth sax playing.

"Go nuts but look after yourselves" echoed Sam after pausing momentarily to allow medics to enter the mosh pit to rescue a fan. It's safe to say after almost 2 years without live music the atmosphere inside was electric and it didn't falter from the off. Even 300 miles from home and the room was still adorned with Geordie memorabilia as someone in the crowd waved around a vintage Newcastle football jersey much to Sam's pleasure. 

New single Seventeen Going Under proved to be another monster of a live track as it slowly built towards its fiery crescendo. As did it's b-side Howden Aldi Death Queue as arms and legs bounced around in the heated front of house.

Returning for the encore with a blisteringly powerful acoustic rendition of Bruce Springsteen's Dancing In The Dark, as quickly as the night begun it rounded up with the towering, stadium-ready Hypersonic Missiles and huge singalong anthem Saturday with its swanky guitars and thumping percussion.

With a second album imminent Sam's setlist will only continue to grow and it won't be long before he's a true force to be reckoned with. All that's left is for you to catch him at an Academy-sized venue before his impending arena residency sets in.

Sam Fender Played:
Will We Talk?
Dead Boys
All Is on My Side
The Borders
Spice
Howden Aldi Death Queue
Get You Down
Seventeen Going Under
Play God 

Encore:
Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen cover)
Saturday
Hypersonic Missiles

*****