North Shield’s star Sam Fender will be playing some very special shows next week as he arrives back in the region for two hometown performances.

Sam will be playing at Newcastle’s St. James’ Park on Friday, June 9 and Saturday, June 10.

He will then go on to headline Glasgow's TRNSMT 2023 festival in July and the famous Reading and Leeds festival in August.

But ahead of Sam’s mega summer performances, here are some facts we have pulled together about one of the most famous musicians around at the moment.

7 things you need to know about Sam Fender:

 

Sam Fender is the first Geordie artist to headline St. James’ Park in Newcastle

Sam is the first Geordie musician to headline St. James’ Park in Newcastle, according to Go North East.

He said: “Ever since I started this band, I always used to joke with the boys that one day we might play St. James' Park in Newcastle.

“It's a childhood dream come true, and we're actually gonna play it on the 9th and 10th June.

“This is literally gonna be the biggest shows we've ever done - our first stadium shows, which is so weird to say! I can't wait, it's gonna be absolutely lush and I hope to see yas all there.”

When did Sam Fender win his first BRIT Award?

Sam was first nominated for the BBC Sound of 2018 but won the BRITs Rising Star Award (Critics Choice Award) in 2019 beating the likes of Before You Go hitmaker Lewis Capaldi and Mahalia.

He also won a BRIT Award for the Best Alternative/Rock Act in 2022.

Sam Fender’s brief acting career

Music is just one of Sam’s many talents as he has also been known to do a spot of acting.

He appeared in the 2011 pilot of Vera and CBBC's Wolfblood.

Sam Fender’s song made it onto a FIFA playlist

At the start of the 29-year-old's career, his song Play God made it onto the popular sporting game FIFA in 2018.

Posting on Facebook, Sam wrote: “My song 'Play God' is going on FIFA 19!!!! If I could tell my 12 year old self this he would probably s*** with excitement. WHAT!!? EA SPORTS.”

When did Sam Fender score his first No.1 album?

Sam’s debut album Hypersonic Missiles claimed the No.1 spot in the UK album charts on September 20, 2019.

It included tracks such as Will We Talk? and The Borders.

Sam Fender has performed with Sir Elton John

Sir Elton John has described Sam as a “very close friend” in the past as the pair have reportedly been friends for a few years, says Planet Radio.

In 2020, Elton personally invited Sam to perform at his annual AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Party, which took place after the Oscars.

The Rocket Man hitmaker joined Sam on stage and together they performed his track Will We Talk?

How did Sam Fender’s career begin?

When Sam was just 18 years old, he began performing at the Low Lights Tavern in his hometown of North Shields where he worked as well as the Surf Café, according to Planet Radio.

He was then spotted by Owain Davies who managed Only Love star Ben Howard and took Sam on as a client.

Speaking about Owain, Sam said: "I was lucky. I was working in a pub and Ben Howard's manager had come home to celebrate winning a BRIT Award. I was behind the bar pulling pints. My boss told me to get my guitar out and play something.”

He added: "Without the Low Lights, I wouldn't be here. It's the scene where it all started. I don't believe in fate, I really really don't, but the night that Owain walked into that pub really really makes me question its existence."