Photo Credit: Mac Scott
Currently touring the UK in support of his forthcoming album People Watching, due for release in February 2025, Sam Fender continued his UK tour playing at Manchester’s Co-op Live to a sold out crowd.
Support came in the form of rockers Wunderhorse, who have previously supported Fender while on tour. Toon tops already begin to flood the standing area early on in proceedings, showing what strong support Fender has from his hometown in the North East. As the lights dimmed in the venue, the crowd were greeted by the arrival of Wunderhorse, who received a lively welcome from the Co-op crowd. Beginning with Midas, the quartet evoke a musical style similar to that of the 90s American grunge scene. Phones were held aloft by the crowd as the first number is greeted with a huge reaction. Having not yet addressed the crowd, lead vocalist Jacob Slater drawls “How’s it going, alright?” before beginning Girl. During the set, people continue to filter into the venue in anticipation for the arrival of Sam Fender. The grunge element continues to feature throughout the bands set as they began Leader Of The Pack. The crowd like what they see tonight from Wunderhorse, but the focus is clearly in the arrival of the man of the moment Sam Fender.
As the obligatory bar break takes place, the venue continues to fill up with stragglers awaiting the arrival of headline act Sam Fender. Dramatic entrance music begins and the packed venue plunges into darkness awaiting the imminent arrival of the headliner. Phones are held aloft as Fender begins Dead Boys to an ecstatic reaction. The newly introduced female band member Brooke Bentham adds another dimension to the already emotional number. Chat is kept to a minimum early on, but Fender does address the excitable crowd, “Good evening Manchester!”
He continues, and mentions he will invite a audience member on-stage during fan favourite The Borders. Possibly the luckiest person in the venue, a young boy wearing a Newcastle United top and going by the name Charlie, is picked out to join Fender and play guitar during The Borders. His excitement has to be contained for at least three minutes as Fender first plays Getting Started. Thereafter, chants of ‘Charlie, Charlie, Charlie’, buzzed around the venue as the young lad climbed the steps onto the stage. Fender hands him a guitar, adjusts the tuning and launches into The Borders.
Despite some well known tracks being played early on, it has been a relatively slow start to the set and the crowd are yet to get into full voice. Playing his second night in Manchester, Sam Fender comments on how much fun he had on the first night, addressing the crowd and giving a nod to support act Wunderhorse, “We had a blast last night, just buzzing to be doing it again. Did you enjoy Wunderhorse, best band in the country in my eyes man.”
With Fender’s last UK and Ireland tour being in 2022, there were no signs of nerves here at Co-op Live as his vocals are note perfect and he seems at ease in one of the largest indoor venues in Europe. A mention has to be given to the set design and lighting arrangement in the arena, as it is simply captivating at times and only enhanced the stellar performance being witnessed.
People Watching from the forthcoming album of the same name, went down incredibly well with the crowd, who screamed every word in unison. Displays in the background link to Fender’s working class roots, which makes him all the more relatable here in a city with such an industrial past. With the crowd now in full voice, Spice and Howdon Aldi Death Queue only ramp up the noise levels within the venue.
Taking the tone down slightly, possibly the most emotional parts of the evening are performances of The Dying Light and Spit Of You where family photos were displayed of Fender as a child in his father’s arms. A touching moment and one we’re sure his dad will be proud of. For the final time, Fender addressed the crowd before beginning Seventeen Going Under, “Manchester, this has been fucking wonderful, thanks so much for coming out. Manchester, sing it with us!”
The encore featured Wild Grey Ocean, in which Fender admits he hasn’t played the song in about a year and forgets the words which causes amusement within the crowd. Before closing the set with a belting rendition of Hypersonic Missiles, before admitting “Right, let’s play the song that got us into this fucking mess’ and fireworks and pyrotechnics are a fitting way to end such a phenomenal performance.
A incredible evening, with a performance to match by a lad from North Shields whose popularity continues to soar year on year. 10/10
Written by: Ben Gilligan
