Sam Fender's Newcastle gigs proved to be a big draw for celebrities, with a whole host of famous faces in the audience on Tuesday and Wednesday.
After a brilliant start to the year, which has seen him and his band on the winner's rostrum at both the Brits and NME Awards, Sam has been welcomed home in epic style this week, with the roar of the Geordie faithful greeting him over two consecutive nights. Arriving on stage to a soundtrack of Local Hero, as Wor Flags did him proud once again, the North Shields singer had his captive audience eating out the palm of his hands from the off.
And, as well as the tens of thousands of music fans who flocked to the Utilita Arena this week, Sam's shows were also graced by a few well known personalities from TV and the sporting world. The most talked about without any shadow of a doubt is Newcastle United star Kieran Trippier. The England international had a prime view on night one, heaping praise on Sam as he left the gig.
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Kieran uploaded a video of the crowd going mental during the Hypersonic Missiles encore, but it's what he said above the clip that has sparked a lot of reaction on both the banks of the Tyne and Wear. In a cheeky dig at Newcastle's rivals, the full-back wrote: "What an incredible evening @samfendermusic. Can’t beat the Newcastle crowd, Sunderland where you at?” adding a crying laugh emoji at the end.
Kieran's tweet quickly went viral on Twitter, with fans of both football clubs having their say as Sunderland supporters boasted about their ground, the Stadium of Light, hosting Elton John and Ed Sheeran this summer, while complaining that Sam's gig had 'turned into a Newcastle match.' As you'd probably expect, Magpies fans loved it, accusations of SAFC supporters being 'bitter' at being in League One.
Spotting Kieran in the toilets at the arena, a Newcastle fan tweeted: "Kieran Trippier just walked past me in the bogs at Sam Fender and I got stage fright."
Kieran wasn't the only Newcastle star at Tuesday's opener, with the hard to miss Dan Burn also in the crowd, getting right amongst it in standing. After clocking Dan, NUFC fan Ryan Batey filmed him and captioned the video: "Big Dan Burn loving a bit of @samfendermusic tonight at the arena! Woaaaaah!" Another fan joked: "You'd be gutted if you were stood behind him."
Away from footballers, TV legend Robson Green was in the crowd on Tuesday, giving his social media followers a glimpse inside the gig, as he shared a video of the encore on Instagram, heaping praise on Sam.
Tweets circulating on Thursday revealed that Sky Sports host Keith Downie was in the crowd on Wednesday night, as was cricketer Paul Collingwood. Spotting both of them, and referencing the Sunderland furore, one gig goer wrote: "Some minor celeb spots at @samfendermusic last night including
@SkySports_ Keith and @Colly622. Fair play to the latter for not being a complete mackem wet wipe and selling his ticket."
