The rise of this North Shields lad has been nothing short of extraordinary.
From supporting Vant in 2017 at the now-closed Fibbers in York to playing Leeds’ first direct arena in front of a crowd of 13,000, Sam Fender’s journey is nothing short of remarkable.
What once felt like witnessing the birth of local talent has transformed into celebrating a fully-fledged icon of British music.
Kicking off the evening was Wunderhorse, a band currently riding high on a wave of critical and fan acclaim. With their latest album Midas making serious noise and a year packed with high-profile gigs - including supporting Fontaines D.C. around Europe and their own headline shows - it’s no surprise that their live performance was nothing short of captivating.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Wunderhorse brought raw energy and undeniable charisma, proving why they’re hailed as one of the most exciting bands of the moment. Their mix of intricate melodies and thundering riffs warmed up the crowd perfectly, leaving the audience buzzing for what was to follow.
As the lights dimmed and the roar of the crowd filled the arena, Fender took to the stage with The Kitchen, igniting an immediate connection with the audience. His ability to balance stadium-worthy anthems with moments of intimate storytelling is what makes him such a standout artist. The set was a masterclass in emotional highs and lows, blending his sharp social commentary with heartfelt personal reflections.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The setlist consisted of some all time classics, alongside his latest releases, both Wild Long Lie, and People Watching, teasing fans to the sounds of the newest Fender album which is set to be released in February.
Tracks like ‘Seventeen Going Under’ brought a collective catharsis to the crowd, with fans screaming every word back at him, while ‘Spit Of You’ delivered a poignant moment of reflection on mental health - a topic that Fender continues to address with unflinching honesty.
One of the standout moments of the night was The Dying Light, which fans were elated to see back on the setlist. Fender’s raw vocals and stripped-back arrangement filled the first direct arena with tear-jerking intimacy, a reminder that despite his rise, he’s never lost the heart and vulnerability that first drew fans to his music.
Drawing the night to a close, Sam told the crowd for these next two songs they might want to have a bit of a mosh pit, urging fans to take care of one another. The riff for Spice then kicked in, which saw the entire arena on its feet, bouncing in unison as Fender’s band delivered a flawless performance. The crowd didn’t even have a chance to catch a breath before ‘Howdon Aldi Death Queue’ turned the crowd into an ecstatic frenzy of people belting the lyrics and emulating the sirens heard in the song.
For the encore the unmistakable opening chant of Hypersonic Missiles echoed throughout the room, leaving the crowd roaring the lyrics long after the show had finished, all the way down to Leeds train station.
It was a fitting finale to a show that felt both triumphant and deeply personal. Fender’s gratitude was evident throughout, and his heartfelt thanks to the fans who have supported him from tiny venues to arenas like this only cemented his status as one of the most relatable artists of his generation.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
It’s almost impossible to reconcile the young artist who played for a handful of people in Fibbers with the confident performer who commanded every inch of the first direct arena’s stage. Yet, the essence of Sam Fender remains the same: a working-class storyteller with a knack for writing songs that resonate across generations.
Leeds was treated to an unforgettable night, showcasing Fender’s ability to make even the largest spaces feel intimate. If this show is anything to go by, the next chapter in his career will only take him to greater heights.
An exciting new venue is set to open its doors this year, marking a significant moment for the city’s nightlife scene.
Introducing Mint XL, the latest venture from the team behind the Mint brand that represents the next evolution of a name that has been central to Leeds’ music culture since the 90’s.
Built on over three decades of experience in the industry, the team’s track record spans from intimate club spaces to major outdoor festivals.
Mint XL will build on this knowledge to bring a venue designed to operate on another level, bigger and better than ever before.
Image: Supplied
With a capacity of over 2000 across multiple rooms, Mint XL has been purpose-built to host a wide range of events. Think large-scale electronic music lineups and extended DJ sets to live performances, brand activations, and private hires.
At the heart of the venue is a focus on sound and experience. A newly-installed Funktion-One Vero system will power the main rooms, supported by high-spec production throughout.
Mint XL will also operate a strict no-phones policy during club events, keeping the focus on the music and the moment.
Images: Supplied
“Mint XL is the next chapter for the brand,” says Owner Shane Graham. “From Mint Club through to Mint Festival, we’ve spent nearly two decades building something special in Leeds, and this is a natural progression of that journey. It allows us to take everything we’ve produced over the years and deliver it at a much bigger club setting.”
Director Mikey McMahon adds: “Mint XL is a big step forward for us. It allows us to programme multi-bill lineups at a much bigger scale across multiple rooms, while also expanding beyond electronic music into live bands, private hires, and brand-led events. At its core, we’ve designed it as a fully versatile space that can adapt to different audiences and experiences under one roof.”
Bring Me The Horizon announce huge Manchester gig for Count Your Blessings anniversary
Danny Jones
Bring Me The Horizon have sent British rock fans into bedlam by booking a special anniversary gig celebrating 20 years since their debut album, Count Your Blessings, and we’re lucky enough that it’s coming to Manchester.
And that’s not the only massive announcement they’ve dropped along with it.
It seems hard to believe it’s been two whole decades since the Northern favourites first burst onto the scene with their first LP, and the Yorkshire heavyweights have come a long way since, both sonically and career-wise in general.
Teaming up with Outbreak ahead of their 2026 festival, they teased the show with a series of posters dotted around Manchester city centre last week.
Yes, the band are set to perform their maiden studio outing, along with a few bonus tracks, in its entirety for the first time EVER.
.@OutbreakFest Presents: Count Your Blessings | Repented
played in full, for the first time ever [manchester 10th july 2026] + other bangers.
It remains unclear whether they’ll be playing it in the original order, nor do we know how many big hits from other albums they’ll be throwing into the set.
All we know is that it’s going to be absolute chaos in those pits.
Presented by Outbreak, the landmark show will be held at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre, a.k.a. the BEC Arena, where the hardcore, punk and all things alternative festival is hosted every year.
Even the poster alone is making us feel nostalgic for our ‘mosher’ phase (as if it ever ended); get your fringes, skinny jeans and checkerboard Vans at the ready.
One of the biggest names to have ever come out of Sheffield – an impressive feat in itself given its rich musical heritage – they’ve done wonders for heavier genres domestically.
Whether you dub them emo, metal, deathcore/anything and everything in between, you can’t deny they’re one of the biggest UK exports this scene has ever, well, seen.
Better still, the all-day event will also feature performances by Static Dress, Rolo Tomassi, Dying Wish, Heriot, Car Underwater and Still In Love.
Last but not least, in arguably even more exciting news, the band have also revealed that they are releasing a full re-recorded version of Count Your Blessings to mark the milestone, dubbing it the ‘Repented‘ version. Not to exaggerate, but we’re absolutely screaming over here…
Fans get their hands on early access by pre-ordering the remastered album from a special old-school, very Myspace-esque landing page; as for general admission, tickets go on sale at 10am this Friday, 17 April – you can get ready to grab yours HERE.
Emily Johnson -
5th December 2024 
