Royal Highland Centre Showground

Sam Fender, born Samuel Thomas Fender on 25 April 1994 in North Shields, England, is a singer, songwriter, and musician. He began releasing singles independently in 2017. His musical style combines influences from his American musical upbringing with a British rock sensibility. Fender is known for his high tenor voice and distinctive Geordie accent. In 2018, he was named one of the BBC's Sound of 2018 and signed to Polydor Records, releasing his debut EP, Dead Boys. He received the Critics' Choice Award at the 2019 Brit Awards and released his debut album, Hypersonic Missiles, which reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. His second album, Seventeen Going Under, was released in 2021 and also topped the UK Albums Chart. The album's title track achieved commercial success and the album was nominated for the 2022 Mercury Prize. Fender has received multiple Brit Awards, winning the British Rock/Alternative Act award in 2022, 2025, and 2026.