Playlist
Well, up to find a text from chum Luke...
He was going to Newcastle today to see a singer called Sam Spender (2 weeks later, Ive realised the singer is Sam Fender, not Spender - have amended this post now) - Luke’s son was supposed to have been going with him but, a week ago, was in a motor bike accident and has done his leg in and not recovered sufficiently...
I was invited to take his place...
Once Anne was up and about, on discussing, we decided I should go...
I figured it would be a small club gig or something like that...
No, this was the third of three 50,000 sell out nights at Newcastle Utd's St James's Park!
Into town...
...and to Waverley for 1:20, train at 1:57...
As ever Luke arrived at the last minute - his daughter Lucy and her boyfriend, Finlay, also along...
The view from the office this afternoon I...
The view from the office this afternoon II...
An Uber from the station to our digs for the night, in Gateshead...
Unpacked and out...
...walking back over the bridge to the city...
...past Newcastle castle...
..and cathedral...
The three musketeers...
Into the Bee Hive on the Bigg Market...
...where the drink prices were frankly unbelievable...
Then, onwards to WonderBar - normal prices and mad Geordies aplenty - everyone in a black and white top was going to see Mr Fender...
...and so was everybody else...
The guitar and drums Oasis covers guys were doing a good job of getting people dancing on the seats and tables...
Eventually, out...
...and to China Town and the Red Fire...
..where we received nourishment ahead of a long night...
Onwards...
...and in...
Nuts!
No one was paying any attention to the support acts...
As we waited for Mr F, the kids had gone their own way, with a meeting point after having been agreed...
Luke and I found a reasonable vantage point...
..and again, for the last number, dedicated to the people of Gaza...
..and then, all over...
...which turned out not to be one which was agreeable to security, so we were moved on...
Eventually, we weedled our way down onto the front area of the pitch and took up residence next to the sound desk tent...
At 9 sharp, on came Sam Fender with his 7 piece band and various guest artists through the night...
I had downloaded his 3 LPs this morning and played them on shuffle on my way to the train...
I recognised a few of the songs he played - but all were sung along with, with gusto, by the 49,999 other attendees...
The recently won by Newcastle Utd cup was brought on by one of their players...
He played "The Boys Are Back in Town", on which his guitar teacher from his early teens joined him - on guitar, of course...
At one point, the stadium was lit up by everyone's phone torches...
For the first encore, there was a brass band on stage...
Confetti canons ahoy!
..and again, for the last number, dedicated to the people of Gaza...
We were having a ball...
..and then, all over...
Around 40 minutes later we were outside and met up with the kids as planned...
I thought we'd be heading back to the apartment but, no "The Stack" was still open...
...and we were here till midnight...
Then, back to a slightly less full than before WonderBar...
...and, around 1:15, back over the bridge and home...
To bed around 2...
So that, readers, was Sam Fender (not Spender) in his hometown...
Tyneside's answer to Bruce Springsteen, kind of...
Enjoyable...
Highlight of the Day : Sam Fender...
Today's New Music:
3 comments:
Spender? Of course it's a Jimmy Nail reference.
That was my thought too - but no-one else remembered...
Just realised, 2 weeks later, it was Sam Fender!!
Post a Comment