It's only a mere matter of months since Sam Fender last faced a sold out Utilita Arena in Newcastle but the local lad has this week been back with a bang.
The North Shields superstar has made his way back to the region after playing to an electric crowd at Wembley's OVO arena at the weekend, in which Tik Tok sensation Francis Bourgeois did his best to steal the limelight by performing a litany of tricks while cruising the stage on a scooter.
And the last time Fender performed in the North East, it was a spectacle to behold - with NUFC flags flying high from start to finish as the artist belted out his sing-along hits to an endearing hometown crowd.
Read more: Sam Fender tour setlist as he gets set for two gigs at Newcastle's Utilita Arena
But how did his debut arena show in Newcastle back in November 2021 match up with the two performances earlier this week?
Support acts:
Back on 18 November last year, Fender and his band were supported by Gang of Youths - an Australian alt-rock band from the heart of Sydney. Although most in attendance were there for the Shields man himself, the five-piece collective performing before managed to win over the hearts of some new fans with their emphatic six song set, including hits such as What Can I Do If the Fire Goes Out? and The Angel of 8th Ave.
From their signature sound to their frontman David Le'aupepe's dazzling dancing on stage, there was plenty to talk about throughout their performance.
This time round, Fender was supported by London-based post punk group, Goat Girl who have began making waves for themselves up and down the country since their initial ensemble in 2016. The female quartet lured listeners into an almost-lucid state during their supporting act, with a combination melancholy sonatas and stripped back tracks setting an almost day-dream tone before Fender came through and upped the atmosphere. Some compared it to the calm before the storm.
Setlist:
Last time round, Fender took to the stage with a brass heavy cover of Mark Knopfler's Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero, which the crowd lapped up from start to finish. The bulk of the set itself mainly comprised of Fender's earlier hits from his debut album Hypersonic Missiles and the Dead Boys EP, such as Spice and The Borders.
He also however, incorporated some of the bigger hits from his latest album Seventeen Going Under, which was released a month prior to his Utilita appearance. Fender and his band played the debut live performance of Getting Started, as well as Spit of You and Mantra to name a few.
Setlist from November 18 2021 -
1. Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero
2. Will We Talk?
3. Getting Started
4. All Is on My Side
5. Dead Boys
6. Mantra
7. The Borders
8. Spice
9. Howdon Aldi Death Queue
10. Get You Down
11. Spit of You
12. Seventeen Going Under
13. Play God
Encore -
14. Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen cover)
15. Saturday
16. Hypersonic Missiles
On Tuesday and Wednesday however, Sam and his band played a handful of different tunes, which had not yet been played live to adoring Geordies. Fender added The Leveller and The Dying Light to his arsenal this time round - hits from his second studio album which he had never played in Newcastle thus far.
Sam also stuck to 16 songs once more as he did in his last North East appearance - despite scrapping the covers performed in the past. Although Johnny Blue Hat and a beautiful brass section were on hand to play out Local Hero once again.
Setlists from this week
1. Will We Talk?
2. Getting Started
3. Dead Boys
4. Mantra
5. Better of Me
6. The Borders
7. Spice
8. Howdon Aldi Death Queue
9. Get You Down
10. Spit of You
11. Play God
12. The Leveller
13. The Dying Light
Encore -
14. Saturday
15. Seventeen Going Under
16. Hypersonic Missiles
