16 of Sam Fender's biggest songs and the meanings behind them
He's now got two albums under his belt
Sam Fender has had a pretty stratospheric rise to fame. His impressive back catalogue of hits has seen him win countless awards, including Critics' Choice Award at the 2019 Brit Awards, as well as TWO Number 1 albums - his debut 'Hypersonic Missiles' and his powerful follow-up 'Seventeen Going Under'.
Whether you're a super-fan of the 30-year-old, or are just discovering his captivating dulcet tones or meaningful songwriting, not to mention his remarkable talents on the guitar, here's a handy guide to some of Sam Fender's biggest songs so far and the meanings behind them.
'Spit Of You' meaning
Featuring on Sam's 2021 album 'Seventeen Going Under', 'Spit Of You' has been described as a 'song about boys and their dads'. With Stephen Graham starring in the music video as Sam's father, we see the relationship between the two, whilst the lyrics draw upon their similarities and how they can struggle to communicate.
Sam can be heard touching on the communication between him and his dad in the lyrics: 'I can talk to anyone, I can't talk to you.'
Speaking about the track, Sam said: "'Spit Of You' is a song about boys and their dads. It’s based around my own relationship with my old man, and how we both struggle as blokes to communicate the way we feel to each other without it becoming a stand off. It’s about how the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as I get further into my twenties I see so much of myself in him, especially when it comes to being stubborn.
"The second half of the song talks about seeing him with my grandma when she passed away, and how I saw him as a son, and how that moment reminded me to make the most of my time with him. If anything, it’s a declaration of love for him."
This can be heard in the lyrics: 'You kissed her forehead, and it ran like a tap / No more than four stone soaked wet through / And I'd never seen you like that, spun me out / Hurt me right through / 'Cause it was love, in all its agony / Every bit of me hurting for you / 'Cause one day that'll be your forehead I'm kissing, and I'll still look exactly like you.'
Sam also said: "Stephen Graham is genuinely one of the best actors this country has ever seen, and such a lovely bloke. I was out of my comfort zone but it was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had. Thanks so much to Phil Barantini for making this beauty come to life".
As fans may have noticed, this isn't the first music video of Sam's that has featured a famous face. The music video for his 2019 track 'Saturday', which featured on his first album, starred none other than Matt King - known for shows such as Peep Show, Skins and Spirited.
WATCH: Sam Fender - 'Spit Of You' (Official Video)
‘Little Bull of Blithe’ meaning
Sam's recent track ‘Little Bull of Blithe’ was featured on the deluxe edition of his second studio album 'Seventeen Going Under'. The singer released the deluxe edition on 9th December 2022, and it included two additional tracks - ‘Little Bull of Blithe’ and 'Wild Grey Ocean', as well as ‘Live From Finsbury Park’ on a bonus disc.
As Sam explained on Instagram, 'Little Bull of Blithe' was dedicated to his Grandma, who sadly passed away while he was making his second album. Sweet references to her can be heard throughout, with Sam explaining on Instagram: 'Little Bull of Blithe’ is a little ditty about my Grandma Fender, who passed away during the making of Seventeen Going Under, she used to call me ‘a little bull of blithe’ as I was always crashing in through the door like a bull in a china shop.'
The lyrics read: 'Call me your little bull of blithe, call me the twinkle in your eye. You sing Sam I am, washed his face in a frying pan. And I was your little bull of Blithe. Made sure that everyone was full, whole life dedicated to us all. Homesick a mile away from home, made sure we never felt alone.'
LISTEN: Sam Fender - 'Little Bull of Blithe'
'Last To Make It Home' meaning
Also appearing on 'Seventeen Going Under', 'Last To Make It Home' is a slower ballad than we're used to from Sammy. The lyrics sound as though he's a little lost in himself - what he stands for and what he wants out of life, as heard in the pre-chorus lyrics: 'And the love I had is never enough / It bores me and leaves me frustrated.'
Sam told Apple Music of the song: "At the beginning, I’m talking to the Virgin Mary, a Mary pendant. I’m realising I need to get ahold of myself. In the second half, Mary becomes personified. She becomes just some girl on Instagram.
"It’s that like desperate, horrible line of: 'Hit the 'like’/In the hopes I’d coax you out of my derelict fantasy.' In the hopes that I’d be noticed. It’s really an anthem for losers—because we’ve all been a loser once. I’ve been a loser hundreds of times."
LISTEN: Sam Fender - 'Last To Make It Home'
'Seventeen Going Under' meaning
'Seventeen Going Under' was released on 7th July, serving as the lead single from his second album of the same name. Sharing a clip of the track to his Instagram, Sam wrote: 'Here’s the title track from my new album 'SEVENTEEN GOING UNDER' which is out October 8th! It's straight from the heart and I'm so proud of it. Can’t wait for you to hear the rest. Album available to pre-order now, link in bio x'
Speaking about the album itself, Sam said: "This album is a coming of age story. It’s about growing up. It’s a celebration of life after hardship, and it’s a celebration of surviving." He also said the new album is more "personal" and a "coming of age record".
The lyrics within the track relate back to Sam's youth, talking about struggles, thoughts and experiences he had whilst growing up. This can be heard in the lyrics: 'I was far too scared to hit him, but I would hit him in a heartbeat now / That’s the thing with anger, it begs to stick around / So it can fleece you of your beauty, and leave you spent with nowt to offer / It makes you hurt the ones who love you / You hurt them like they’re nothing.'
'Embryonic love' meaning
Although Sam hasn't discussed what he was specifically referring to here, we can make a guess. The song is all about youth and being a teenager, and calling someone an "embryo" can often be a jokey way to refer to a younger person who is possibly ignorant of what life is like.
So when Sam sings: 'An embryonic love / The first time that it scarred / Embarrass yourself for someone / Cryin' like a child', we can surmise that he's talking about his first love as a young teenager, thinking that it's going to be a pivotal part of his life. Looking back, he maybe realises that it wasn't the great love story he thought it was at the time.
WATCH: Sam Fender - 'Seventeen Going Under' (Official Video)
'Will We Talk?' meaning
As a follow-up single to 'Hypersonic Missiles', 'Will We Talk?' was released in July 2019 and also appeared on his debut album. A much more fast-paced track, 'Will We Talk?' follows the story of a one night stand between two people, and one wondering whether the other is interested in forming a deeper relationship.
The lyrics to the chorus are: 'And she said / "If you dance with me, darling / If you take me home / Will we talk in the morning?"'
WATCH: Sam Fender - 'Will We Talk?' (Official Video)
'Play God' meaning
'Play God' was Sam's first single, released in March 2017 with a music video following in January 2019. The moody track was an impressive first offering, with themes of oppression and tyranny.
The song gained the attention of a wider audience when it was included on the soundtrack for video game FIFA '19, and has been certified Silver in the UK. 'Play God' appeared on Sam's debut album 'Hypersonic Missiles' in 2019.
WATCH: Sam Fender - 'Play God' (Official Video)
'The Borders' meaning
The seventh single from 'Hypersonic Missiles', 'The Borders' follows the story of two best friends from similar backgrounds who have each suffered from emotional neglect at home. Sam's camp said: ''The Borders' is Fender's personal favourite song from the new album 'Hypersonic Missiles'. At once deeply personal, traumatic even, Sam tells a story of two boys growing up together and then going their separate ways.'
The gripping music video visually plays out this scenario, as one of the boys is violent towards the other. When they both meet each other again as adults, it becomes apparent that the violent boy seriously injured his friend and has severely affected his life in more ways than one.
WATCH: Sam Fender - 'The Borders' (Official Video)
'Greasy Spoon' meaning
Sam's follow-up single 'Greasy Spoon' was also released in 2017, and follows a day in the life of a woman facing the trials and tribulations of cat-calling men. Some of the lyrics are: 'Cat calling white van patrolling', 'As he sits with a drooling smirk' and 'She hardly breathes / When you're in her breathing space.' Towards the end, Sam reminds men everywhere that women are someone's daughter/sister/mother and to be more empathetic. It was a non-album single.
WATCH: Sam Fender - 'Greasy Spoon' (Official Video)
'Friday Fighting' meaning
Sam's first single of 2018, 'Friday Fighting' has not appeared on any EPs or albums, and although it didn't chart in the UK, it's well worth a listen. The driving beat of the drums and guitars does a great job of hyping up the listener - hopefully not for a spot of Friday Fighting, though.
The song itself is pretty self-explanatory - the lyrics are all about young men in a small town finding a way to release their tensions and express themselves. The chorus lyrics are: 'Oh, it's Friday and I'm fighting / Let it all out on someone who doesn't know / What's behind these closed doors / But it's Friday, I'll be fighting.'
LISTEN: Sam Fender - 'Friday Fighting'
'Leave Fast' meaning
A slightly slower and more melancholic melody from Sam, 'Leave Fast' appeared on his 2019 debut album. The song seems to be about how living in a small town can be stifling for some, as the lyrics describe a run-down place and how Sam is keen to be more than that: 'Boarded up windows on the promenade / The shells of old nightclubs / And half way houses', and 'An old man told me to leave fast or stay forever.'
WATCH: Sam Fender - 'Leave Fast' (Official Video)
'Dead Boys' meaning
The titular track of Sam's EP, released in November 2018, 'Dead Boys' is a beautifully-written but tragic song about the high rate of suicide among young men - and particularly those around Sam's hometown of North Shields. The heartbreaking music video sees a group of young men ending their lives, with lyrics like: 'We close our eyes / Learn our pain / Nobody ever could explain / All the dead boys in our hometown.'
Sam told Absolute Radio all about writing this song: "'Dead Boys' is an important song for me because I wrote it as a reaction to losing a friend to suicide a couple of years ago. I initially wrote it as a reaction purely for myself because I didn’t know how to articulate the way I felt.
"I actually wrote a few of my songs in my friend’s house who passed away, and then I looked into the stats and saw that it was the biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK and it takes 84 lives a week or something like that, which is just staggering.
"That song just weirdly became this kind of anthem for that and since then positive things came from it. I mean the perfect example was there was a guy actually driving on the way to kill himself and he coincidentally had the radio on, and I was on the radio talking about 'Dead Boys' and talking about why I wrote the song and stuff, and this guy stopped the car and apparently bawled his eyes out at the side of the road for three hours and then turned the car around and drove back to his wife and then opened up and got help.
"I met the guy and he said that was the moment that turned it round. It doesn’t matter where my career goes after this, it doesn’t matter if I never sell any records, it doesn’t matter if my album bombs and I never do this again and I go back home… it’s the best thing that ever happened in my career and it always will be."
WATCH: Sam Fender - 'Dead Boys' (Official Video)
'That Sound' meaning
One of Sam's more well-known songs, 'That Sound' was released as a single in December 2018 and appeared on his debut album, 'Hypersonic Missiles', in 2019, after originally being on his EP 'Dead Boys', released in November 2018.
The song itself is all about how Sam keeps himself level-headed when faced with people from his hometown who all pretend to be his mate now he's famous. Lyrics include: 'At home I face these green-eyed beasts / Everybody wants to leave but no one wants to see you do it.'
Sam said of the song: "It's a not-so-sutble middle finger to the naysayers that tend to rear their heads as soon as things start to work out for you, especially back home. This song talks loosely about how susceptible you can become to negativity and jealousy, even when you’re at your happiest and most confident. It’s about finding strength to ignore it all, and keep doing your own thing."
WATCH: Sam Fender - 'That Sound' (Official Video)
'Hypersonic Missiles' meaning
The title track of Sam's debut album was released in March 2019, six months ahead of the album coming out. The song focuses on all the negativity in the world, especially around potential wars, but there's also a feeling of looking back on life and thinking of the good times - especially thanks to the light-hearted melody.
Sam said of the song: "In many ways, an unorthodox love song. Its main focus is on the world around the narrator, who is a complete tin foil hatter. They are convinced the world is on its last legs; they know that it is rife with injustice but feel completely helpless and lacking the necessary intelligence to change it while remaining hopelessly addicted to the fruits of consumerism.
"Amongst all the chaos is love and celebration, there is this glimmer of hope that runs through the song, a little notion that no matter what happens, these two people are gonna have a good time regardless of the tyrants that run their world, and regardless of the imminent doom from these 'Hypersonic Missiles'."
WATCH: Sam Fender - Hypersonic Missiles (Official Video)
On 13th September 2023, Sam celebrated four-years since the release of his debut album 'Hypersonic Missiles'. Sharing some behind-the-scenes footage of him and his band, Sam wrote: '4 years since we released Hypersonic Missiles 🚀🤯 What a journey - thanks for all the love ❤️'.
'All Is On My Side' meaning
The opening of Sam's 2019 single 'All Is On My Side' will surely speak to Fleetwood Mac fans. It was released after his debut album, when fans campaigned for it to become a single as it didn't make the album - despite Sam writing it years ago. He said on Twitter: 'This is one of the oldest songs I have, it didn’t make the album. I’ve played it for 5 years and wrote it when I was a baby.'
He later added: "'All Is On My Side' is a real live favourite for me. It’s been a mainstay in the set for a couple of years now and it’s nice to release this as a bit of a thank you to all the fans at the end of the year."
For all of his deep and insightful songs, 'All Is On My Side' has more of a frivolous, let-loose attitude, as Sam sings about getting drunk on nights out with your pals: 'The dirty haze of drinks with cannibal eyes / In a club you despise but you go where all your friends are.'
WATCH: Sam Fender - 'All Is On My Side' (European Tour 2019)
'Hold Out' meaning
His first release of 2020, Sam put out 'Hold Out' in February 2020, saying of the track: "We nearly released 'Hold Out' as a single a while back. It used to be a staple in our live set when the band first got together, and I've always been really fond of it.
"It's about going out on the lash back home which was really just a form of escape. This is going to be the last tune we put out there of the 'Hypersonic Missiles' era. I hope you like it as much as I do."
WATCH: Sam Fender - 'Hold Out' (Official Video)
Sam Fender cover: 'Winter Song'
In November 2020, Sam really showed us his generous and caring side when he joined forces with The Big Issue in order to help combat homelessness and focus peoples' minds on the matter.
In order to raise awareness, the Geordie singer released 'Winter Song' - a powerful cover of the classic track by Lindisfarne, calling on listeners to "spare a thought" for those who don't have a home.
Sam Fender covers Metallica's 'Sad But True'
In June 2021, Sam Fender premiered his cover of Metallica's 'Sad But True' from the band's 1991 heavy metal masterpiece 'The Black Album.'
Sam's unique cover of 'Sad But True' is one of 53 songs that appear on the charity album 'The Metallica Blacklist', which is released on 10th September 2021 and features covers of songs from 'The Black Album' by any eclectic array of artists.
100% of sales proceeds from ‘The Metallica Blacklist’ go directly to charity – 50% to Metallica’s own All Within My Hands Foundation and 50% to a charity of each artist’s choice. Sam Fender picked Teenage Cancer Trust as his charity.
Take a look through Sam Fender's career timeline so far:
Early beginnings
Receiving his first guitar when he was eight-years-old, Sam began to learn how to play, becoming proficient by the age of 10. At just 12-years-old, Sam met his friend Dean Thompson, who he began to play guitar alongside. The pair performed in front of an audience for the first time over the following year, appearing at his brother's street performer nights and family events. Sam and Dean would play Jimmy Hendrix covers, and at later gigs began to cover bands such as Kings of Leon.
Sam had his sights set on becoming a professional musician, with the singer saying: "When I hit 13 it was the only thing I wanted from life."
2008 - Sam began writing songs
Sam began writing songs at just 14-years-old. Over the following year, he took inspiration from the likes of Jeff Buckley and Bruce Springsteen, and played with his band in local pubs. The singer has since said that in his early song-writing, his desire to "do well" led to him writing songs that he thought would be popular.
More recently, Sam has described his musical influences as artists such as Jimmy Page, Tom Petty and Slash, as well as music that his mum and dad would 'play around the house'. He said that was: "Everything from Donny Hathaway to the Beatles and Aretha Franklin, and Steely Dan and all the old great stuff."
2011 - 2012 - Television debut
Despite Sam now being known for his monumental success in the music industry, some of his earliest jobs were actually on the box! When he was 15-years-old, Sam appeared on the pilot episode of ITV drama Vera, which aired in 2011, where he played a murdered teen named Luke Armstrong. Sam also appeared on CBBC fantasy series Wolfblood in 2012, where he played a character named Dean.
You can watch a clip of Sam Fender on ITV's Vera here on Twitter.
Sam's skills on the screen seem to have impressed, as years later Sam was in fact asked to be in pop star Ariana Grande's music video for her song 'Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored', however turned the job down due to shooting his 'Play God' video on the same day.
2013 - Career beginnings
Sam's music career began to take off at just 18-years-old, performing in his hometown of North Shields. Performing in the Low Lights Tavern, a pub where he worked, and the Surf Café, he was soon spotted by Owain Davies - who managed 'Only Love' singer Ben Howard. Owain took Sam on as a client, with 2013 seeing him playing a series of gigs throughout the country. Sam also supported a number of artists, including Ben Howard and Willy Mason.
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," revealing that Owain soon: "Put his money where his mouth was and invested in me."
Speaking about his humble beginning, Sam said: "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." He then described his discovery as a 'Disney film'.
In 2015, at the age of 20, Sam took some time out due to a major health scare. Through his recovery, Sam refocused his songwriting efforts and he began to write songs for himself.
2017 - Debut single and breakthrough
On 30th March 2017, Sam released his debut single 'Play God' independently. The track marked the beginning of a successful career for Sam, and serves as one of his most popular releases to date. Along with his band, consisting of Dean Thompson, Joe Atkinson, Tom Ungerer and Drew Michael, Sam began to play various shows and tour with support slots for different artists.
2017 also saw Sam release further singles such as 'Friday Fighting', 'Millennial', 'Start Again' and 'Greasy Spoon', with his popularity beginning to largely grow.
2018 - First signing and ‘Dead Boys’
June 2018 saw Sam sign his first record deal, signing with Polydor Records. He soon released his track 'Dead Boys', from his EP of the same name, which was released on 20th November 2018 and featured other songs such as 'That Sound', 'Poundshop Kardashian', 'Spice' and 'Leave Fast'.
The track 'Dead Boys' is now widely considered his breakthrough hit, with Sam performing the song on Later… with Jools Holland. Gaining further mainstream attention, 'Play God' was later featured on the soundtrack for the FIFA 19 video game.
Dealing with the topic of male suicide, Sam wrote the song following the tragic loss of a close friend, who sadly took is own life. To this day, the emotive and poignant song is still widely praised, with a fan even reaching out to describe how 'Dead Boys' saved his life. After discussing his apprehension to release the song as he "didn't want to be seen as capitalising on a tragedy or using suicide as a way to be controversial", Sam revealed: "It's definitely done more good than it did bad."
He continued: "There was a guy who was on his way to kill himself and he was driving his car. He was going to drive his car off the road and I was on the radio and doing a chat about Dead Boys and singing a song and the presenter got an email six months later and I got tied into the email as well, and it was basically saying that he heard what was on the radio and because of that chat on the show he pulled over, cried his eyes out, went home to his wife and said he needed help."
The 'Dead Boys' EP was certified Gold by the BPI in April 2024 - meaning that its seen over 100,000 sales in the UK. Pretty impressive stuff!
2018 - Headline tour
After the release of his EP 'Dead Boys', Sam and his band embarked on a headline tour. The tour included three sold-out shows in London, as well as one in Newcastle, as well as him heading on a 13-date European and Australian tour. In December, he also joined Blossoms on tour, and was soon selected by Vevo as an artist to watch.
Alongside the EP's release, he embarked on a headline tour including three sold-out shows at the London's Omeara club and one at Newcastle University and toured with Blossoms in December.
2019 - 'Hypersonic Missiles'
With his band line-up completed by saxophonist Johnny 'Blue Hat' Davis, Sam Fender's debut album 'Hypersonic Missiles' was released on 13th September 2019. After debuting at the Number 1 spot on the UK Albums Chart, it sold over 41,000 copies in the first week. Including huge tracks such as 'The Borders', 'Will We Talk?', 'Dead Boys', 'Play God' and the lead single 'Hypersonic Missiles', the album is now certified Platinum.
Prior to the album's release, Sam appeared on The Graham Norton Show in May 2019. He continued to tour and play sell-out shows, however in mid-2019 had to cancel a number of shows, including Glastonbury Festival, due to vocal injury. After a month of rest, however, Sam was back in action - soon playing support for Bob Dylan and Neil Young in Hyde Park, and even setting a record for the fastest-selling show at the Mouth of the Tyne Festival. As headliner, Sam sold out the festival within 40 minutes. 2019 also saw Sam perform on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, gracing the show with his popular track 'Will We Talk?'
2019 - 2020 - BRIT Award win
Following the monumental success of his debut album, Sam was awarded the 2019 BRITs Rising Star Award (formerly known as the Critics' Choice Award). Immortalising his win, Sam kept to his word and displayed his BRIT Award at the Low Lights Tavern - the pub in which he used to work, and was discovered by manager Owain Davies.
The award currently sits on the bar, serving as a pump for one of the pub's beer taps.
The following year, in 2020, Sam bagged another BRIT Award nomination, this time for Best New Artist, however lost out to 'Someone You Loved' singer Lewis Capaldi.
2020 - Elton John performance and headline tour
Elton John has described Sam as a 'very close friend' in the past, and their friendship in fact dates back years. In 2020, Elton personally invited Sam to perform at his annual AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Party, which took place after the Oscars. Elton joined Sam on stage as the pair performed his track 'Will We Talk?'
Since then, Sam has often written and recorded songs in Elton John's home. He even popped along to an A-list dinner party at the 'Hold Me Closer' legends house, with the likes of pop star Dua Lipa and Scissor Sisters icon star Jake Shears.
2020 - Socially distanced gig
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, shows across the globe were cancelled as social distancing was introduced and we entered various lockdowns. On 11th August, however, Sam provided us all with the UK's first socially distanced outdoor gig! Serving as the first large-scale socially distanced outdoor concert in the UK, Sam took to the stage at Gosforth Park, in his native North East.
Taking place in Newcastle Racecourse, a total of 2,500 people attended the historic gig, all standing in 500 mini enclosures, each 2 metres apart and holding up to five people.
You can see photos of Sam Fender's socially distanced gig here.
2020 - Winter Song
On 24th November 2020, Sam released his track 'Winter Song' - a cover of a Lindisfarne track from 1970. The release was used to raise money for street newspaper The Big Issue. On its release, Sam told NME: "I wanted to do a Christmas song, and wanted it to be close to my home and my heart. For me, the words are more relevant this year than ever. Christmas won't be the same for a lot of people this year, and that's why I picked Winter Song. Alan Hull truly was one of the most fantastic and underrated writers of his time. Geordie legend. I hope I've done it justice, I'm really proud of it."
Speaking of the music video released to accompany the track, Sam said: "So we got together with People Of The Streets, and I think it's sort of the first time you get to see the perspective of homeless people. You hear stats and statistics and you see the figures and it's horrible, but you don't actually see the human side of it. When you watch the video it's stunning and I was choking up the first time that I watched it. It's human and it makes it a lot more personal and a lot more close to home."
2021 - ‘Seventeen Going Under’
The following year saw the release of Sam's first single from his second studio album, 'Seventeen Going Under'. The single was released on 7th July, with the full album of the same name later released on 8th October.
The track 'Seventeen Going Under' was an instant hit, hitting the Number 3 spot in the UK Singles Chart. Now certified 2x Platinum in the UK alone, it serves as one of Sam's most successful releases of all time.
When it comes to the meaning behind the passionate track, it relates back to Sam's youth, talking about struggles, thoughts and experiences he had whilst growing up.
2021 - ‘Spit Of You’
Another single from his second album, 'Spit Of You', was released on 27th September 2021, ahead of the full album release. With the song already hugely popular, the music video quickly caught the eyes of many fans, with Line Of Duty actor Stephen Graham starring as Sam's dad. The music video was released on 6th October 2021, and has accumulated well over 6 million views on YouTube - and counting.
The video echoes the themes of the song, with the Liverpool actor - who previously starred in hits such as Help, This Is England, Time and Boiling Point - playing Sam's father, showing the somewhat strained relationship they have.
Speaking about the video, Sam said: 'This video is so beast! It was the most amazing experience to film with Stephen Graham, genuinely one of the best actors this country has ever seen and such a lovely bloke. So proud of this one!!'
2021 - 2022 - Awards
In the following years, Sam picked up numerous awards and nominations, mostly following the roaring success of his second album. The album saw Sam nominated for three awards in 2022 - those being British Artist of the Year, British Album of the Year and Best British Alternative/Rock Act, with Sam winning the latter.
As well as numerous other award nominations, including NME, Ivor Novello and Mercury Prize, he bagged a UK Music Video Award for Best Rock Video thanks to 'Spit Of You'.
2022 - Glastonbury
Due to previous cancellations due to the pandemic, June 2022 saw Glastonbury return with an incredible line-up that did not leave fans disappointed. In what was the festival's first full day of music after a two-year absence, Sam Fender took to the stage to perform some of his biggest tracks.
Sam's set-list included: 'Will We Talk?', 'Getting Started', 'The Borders', 'Spice', 'Howdon Aldi Death Queue','Get You Down', 'Spit of You', 'Seventeen Going Under' and 'Hypersonic Missiles'.
Other huge acts included former Led Zeppelin front-man Robert Plant and Rufus Wainwright, with Billie Eilish serving as main headliner.
2022 - Break for mental health
In September 2022, Sam shared a post to his Instagram page explaining that in order to work on his mental health, he was taking some time away. Although he had to cancel some live performances and appearances, Sam assured fans he would return for his show in Australia in late November of that year.
In an open and honest post, Sam wrote: 'It seems completely hypocritical of me to advocate discussion on mental health and write songs about it if I don't take the time to look after my own mental health.
'I've neglected myself for over a year now and haven't dealt with things that have deeply affected me. It's impossible to do this work on myself while on the road, and it's exhausting feigning happiness and wellness for the sake of business. My friends and colleagues have been worried about me for a while and it's not going to get better unless I take the time to do so.'
He went on to thank fans for their support, and express his excitement for his return in the following months - including a show in Australia and his 2023 homecoming gig in Newcastle.
Upon his return to performing, Sam shared a short video from his Melbourne show on Instagram, saying: 'Soo nice to be back in Australia!! Melbourne that was absolutely insane!' (sic)
2022 - ‘Seventeen Going Under Live Deluxe’ album
On 9th December 2022, Sam released a deluxe version of his second album, titled 'Seventeen Going Under Live Deluxe'. The album featured new tracks titled 'Little Bull Of Blithe' and 'Wild Grey Ocean', as well as 'Live From Finsbury Park' on a bonus disc.
Sam took to Instagram to reveal that 'Little Bull Of Blithe' was in fact about his Grandma, who sadly passed away while he was making his second album. He wrote: 'she used to call me 'a little bull of blithe' as I was always crashing in through the door like a bull in a china shop.' (sic)
2023 - Newcastle's St James’ Park gigs
The exciting news was announced in September 2022 that Sam would be heading to his hometown of Newcastle in 2023, for huge gigs at St James' Park. Playing two shows, Sam described the concerts as a "childhood dream come true".
Sam was initially set to play just one date, on 9th June 2023 - the same day as the city's famous Blaydon Race. Due to a frenzied reaction from fans to the first show, the singer added an extra date the following night - Saturday 10th June.
The shows took place in Newcastle's famous football stadium, and made him the first Geordie musician to headline the 55,000+ capacity stadium. The historic show even saw Sam bring out none other than ACDC legend Brian Johnson, on Saturday 10th June, with the pair duetting tracks such as 'Back In Black' and Bruce Springsteen's 'I'm on Fire'.
2023 - Headline Reading & Leeds Festival
Reading & Leeds Festival organisers announced six huge headline acts for their 2023 events - including none other than Sam Fender. Taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend of Friday 25th to Sunday 27th August 2023, Sam joins the impressive list of headliners which includes the likes of The Killers, Billie Eilish, Foals, Imagine Dragons and Lewis Capaldi.
On bagging his headline spot, Sam wrote: 'I first went to Leeds festival 10 years ago as a teenager, me and Deano spent the entire week launching hot dogs out of a gazebo pole at random crowds of lads chanting 'Yorkshire Yorkshire'. One night I was out cold in my tent from necking a bottle of vodka at Eagles of Death Metal my tent got set alight - some fine young hero from Sheffield pissed out the fire to save me. Thankfully because of that lad whose name I can't remember, I didn't perish in the flames, little did he know he'd just saved Reading and Leeds's 2023 headliner. See you down the front x'. (sic)
2023 - Sam honours 4 years of 'Hypersonic Missiles'
On 13th September 2023, Sam honoured the 4th anniversary of his 13-track debut album 'Hypersonic Missiles'. Taking to Instagram, he shared some behind-the-scenes footage and images from the last four years of his career, captioning the clip: '4 years since we released Hypersonic Missiles 🚀🤯 What a journey - thanks for all the love ❤️'.
2024 - Mark Knopfler's Guitar Heroes
In February 2024, it was announced that Mark Knopfler had drafted in over 60 iconic musicians under the moniker 'Mark Knopfler's Guitar Heroes', in order to create a charity remake of his legendary 1983 instrumental track 'Going Home (Theme From Local Hero)'.
Sam joined the incredible line-up, with the track released on 15th March 2024. Featuring Mark Knopfler himself, and the track opening with Jeff Beck's final recording before his untimely death in 2023, proceeds from the newly-expanded nine-minute instrumental epic will be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust and its American equivalent Teen Cancer America.
You can listen to the track right here, and find out how to download it.
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