It could be argued he'd done it already with his Brit wins, epic sell out arena shows and blinding Glastonbury debut, but Sam Fender definitely cemented his Geordie icon status on Friday when he announced he's playing a massive gig at St James' Park next summer.
As giant Newcastle United flags continue to be waved in his honour at shows like the ones at at the Utilita Arena and O2 City Hall Newcastle, North Shields musician Sam has been flying the flag for Tyneside on an epic scale for four years now, with his star rising higher and higher with each and every new career high he achieves.
The thing with Sam is that, while he's won a Brit, played Glastonbury, supported Bob Dylan, forged a close friendship with Elton John and even had the chance to play Ariana Grande's love interest in one of her music videos (which he turned down!) you're just as likely to see him having a few pints down the local or, just like what happened, this past weekend, getting a breakfast from a Whitley Bay takeaway.
READ MORE: Sam Fender to play massive gig at Newcastle's St James' Park
And that's why Newcastle and the wider North East, has taken the North Shields musician to their hearts.
Sam didn't rely on a TV talent show or going viral online to make it big. Instead, like many local singers, he'd do his thing at open mic nights on home turf, sometimes playing to packed out pubs, sometimes to just one or two customers. And it was while playing a spot at his favourite pub, The Low Lights Tavern, that Sam was spotted by music manager Owain Davies, who just happened to be in the area at the time.
Owain already had Brit Award winner Ben Howard on his roster but saw something in Sam, that the whole word is seeing now and expressed in keen interest in working with him. Sam singled out Owain for a special mention when he and his band members accepted their Brit for Best Rock/Alternative back in February, telling the capacity crowd: "Thank you to Owain, my manager. Thanks for walking into that pub 10 years ago and believing in it. Thanks to the team. Thanks to everyone back in Shields."
Sam's love for his hometown is reflected in the his work with North East Homeless, a charity he raised £130,000 for with his City Hall gig in May, before paying tribute to them by wearing one of their badges on stage at Glasto. Then there's the fact that his two Brits to date are now beer bumps on the Lowlights bar, his poignant tribute to the pub's late landlord John O'Keefe, by naming a stage at his record-breaking Finsbury Park gig after him and his delight at Greggs providing the food for his Brits after party.
And who can forget Sam partying with supporters last October when Newcastle United's takeover was finally announced. He and saxophone player Johnny Bluehat joined in a mass rendition of Local Hero and had a few cans with fans, with Sam looking slightly worse for wear for an instantly legendary appearance on BBC Breakfast the morning after.
Local Hero, having become a goosebump-inducing curtain raiser to Sam's gigs, was, very aptly, the song used in the announcement for his St James' gig on June 9 2023 as Sam declared the concert "a childhood dream," and fans went crazy for the announcement.
With two number 1 albums, sell out shows across the world and having the Glastonbury faithful eating out the palm of his hand, Sam Fender has already done Tyneside immensely proud and the emphatic reaction he's sure to get when he walks onto the St James' pitch in nine months time will be a moment for him, his band and his fans to savour.
READ NEXT:
*Sam Fender's St James Park support acts announced as fans go wild
*Sam Fender spotted grabbing breakfast at 'iconic' Whitley Bay takeaway
*How to get pre-sale tickets for Sam Fender's St James Park gig
*Alan Shearer reacts as Sam Fender announces St James' Park concert
