Brit Award-winner Sam Fender was a star attraction at the Alan Shearer Foundation Ball on Saturday night and while singing about 'going under' he was was going down a storm with the guests.
The North Shields singer-songwriter took to the stage - with black and white-stripe guitar - at the Hilton hotel in Gateshead to whip up the crowd during a lavish night of entertainment and fund-raising. And he had guests on their feet, dancing and cheering during the title track of his second album Seventeen Going Under; the song which also won him an Ivor Novello Award.
Fender was among a number of familiar faces at the ball which is an annual event on the Alan Shearer Foundation calendar. The Foundation was set up by the former Newcastle striker turned manager and now TV pundit to support his Alan Shearer Centre in the city whose mission is to raise at least £250,000 each year to support people with disabilities.
Shearer - Newcastle's top scorer, netting 206 goals in his time - and his family were joined at the ball by the likes of fellow former Newcastle United player Rob Lee and ex-manager Steve Bruce; music star DJ Spoony and TV host Jeremy Kyle. Sage Group co-founder Graham Wylie was also among the guests at the night which traditionally includes a Champagne reception, three-course meal and a silent auction which all helps to boost the foundation coffers.
Fender follows several big names to have performed at the ball over the years, including Gary Barlow, Jess Glynne, Ronan Keating, Beverley Knight and Ed Sheeran. This summer will see him play his huge double date at St James' Park where tickets for his upcoming June 9 and 10 shows sold out within minutes of going on sale.
He has said of the chance to play there: "It's a childhood dream come true. I always joked that one day we might play St James' Park in Newcastle, the biggest stadium in the North East, and now we're actually gonna play it."
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