Gig Review | Sam Fender at London Stadium
Sam Fender has once again emerged as the people's champion.
Discovered while working at his local pub, he has since ascended to the top of the album charts and festival line-ups with his electrifying guitar anthems, reflecting the struggles and triumphs of coming of age in modern Britain.
Author | Josh T
The support acts
Olivia Dean appeared on stage to a wash of pink, draped curtains. There was a smooth brass instrumentation alongside her band. Dean raised the bar at the London Stadium with her signature blend of soulful tunes and R&B.
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The Geordie Bruce Springsteen
Fender's raw, impassioned songwriting has earned him comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, specifically now being labelledThe Geordie Springsteen. Despite this, he’s clearly carved out his own distinctive path.
The night also saw the venue’s attendance record broken, surpassing a previous high set by R&B star The Weeknd in 2023. Fender himself described the experience as “bizarre”, taking in the scale of it all from the stage.
With another major London venue now ticked off, the question naturally arises: how long before Newcastle’s guitar-slinging son takes on Wembley? At this pace, it feels less a matter of if, and more a question of when.
The highlights of a fantastic set list
From the resilient opener Getting Started to the anthemic Hypersonic Missiles, Fender’s lyrics were sung back by an audience of 82,500 fans, spanning multiple generations.
The evening reached an emotional high with the live debut of "Rein Me In," a standout track from his latest album. To make the moment even more special, Olivia Dean returned to the stage to perform a newly written verse alongside him. It was a truly memorable experience.
He once again covered London Calling by The Clash, showing his musical versatility. Even that legendary band would have impressed.
Throughout the set, these anthems of angst and hope have solidified his position as the voice of a diverse and passionate following. It was a truly remarkable night of live music in East London, one that suggests this will not be the last time Fender headlines such a huge outdoor crowd.
More reaction from those that were there
Olivia T was in attendance, she said: "An amazing night. The atmosphere was incredible throughout even if the venue itself isn't great for live music."
London Super News contributor Ajay spoke about the end of the set, saying: "As far as encores go, I don't think I've seen better one than that. The passion and power in Sam Fender’s performance was there for everyone to see. He really is a talented musician and it be interesting where his career goes from here."
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