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Sam Fender is officially BACK with a new tour and a massive Manchester date

Someone pass us a bottle of Newkie Brown Ale, this deserves a toast!

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 18th October 2024

After what feels like an eternity, everyone’s favourite Geordie is back: Sam Fender’s new album looks like it’s on the way but we’re getting a massive UK arena tour first.

Literally three whole years since his smash-hit sophomore record Seventeen Going Under and having gone without any new releases from Sam besides an exciting feature on Noah Kahan’s ‘Homesick’ back in January, Fender fanatics have quite rightly been losing their minds.

You can consider us firmly included in that group.

Confirming the announcement at 10 on Friday, 18 October after a series of teasers online, the 30-year-old has finally shared details of the new ‘People Watching’ tour, suspected to be the name of his upcoming third studio album.

Fans have already heard glimpses of the heavily rumoured title track ‘People Watching’ both in the short social media clips and out on the road, as the North Shields-born indie star and his band have been playing new songs at a handful of gigs at the likes of this year’s Boardmasters festival back in August.

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Although live versions of other as yet unreleased tracks like ‘Nostalgia’s Lie’ and ‘Love is a Long Road’ are out there on the internet, it became clear which song he was going to release first after he posted the lyrics, “I people watch on the way back home”, on his accounts.

As well as resharing posters outside some of the UK’s biggest venues like Manchester’s Co-op Live and Leeds’ First Direct Arena, he also told fans to get ready with a countdown page on his website.

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Having now dropped the series of dates, we’re buzzing to find out that ‘Sam Fender 3’ and his UK tour are coming sooner than we expected – the gigs themselves as early as December in fact.

Consider this the best early Christmas present ever!

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Set to play Manchester’s Co-op Live on 6 December 2024 and a special hometown gig in Newcastle later that month, he will be launching into the rest of his European dates in March next year. It’s hard to believe this is his first UK tour since spring 2022.

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Better yet, the incredible Wunderhorse will once again be supporting him and £1 from every ticket sold for the UK dates will be donated to the Music Venue Trust in support of grassroots venues. Love this boy.

We’re so glad to have him back and after watching him live a few times now, including at Castlefield Bowl back in 2022, we can confirm he really is one of the best in the country.

General admission tickets go on sale from 10am next Friday, 25 October via Samfender.com but you can access pre-sale by pre-ordering the new album in any format HERE before Monday, 21 October to get an exclusive code.

We still don’t know the album name for sure or the release date, but we know that ‘SF3’ is coming and we can’t wait to hear the new songs as well as all the hits live. Roll on December!

sam fender new album people watcing
The latest Sam Fender tour dates might be confirmed, but we’re still yet to hear details about ‘SF3’. (Credit: Screenshot)

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Raph_PH (via Flickr)/Press Image (supplied)

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Manchester musicians, celebrities and more are uniting to help save Salford Lads and Girls Club

Danny Jones Danny Jones Save Salford Lads and Girls Club from closing fundraiser

Salford Lads and Girls Club is under threat and Manchester musicians, celebrities and other important local figures are uniting to help try and save it.

An absolute institution and the site of some of the most important moments in Manc music history, Salford Lads and Girls Club is sadly facing the risk of closure simply due to a lack of funding and the rising costs facing so many organisations around the country.

As the place where countless local artists attended as youngsters and played some of their first gigs, not to mention the same spot where the most iconic photo ever of legendary Manchester band The Smiths was taken, the importance of this location to our region’s culture cannot be overstated.

That being said and with the news that they need to raise serious finances to keep the club going, those who know full well how much it means are doing what they can to keep it afloat.

Much-loved DJ Mike Sweeney, AO founder and CEO John Roberts, The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess and local musician-turned-journalist John Robb from Louder Than War are among those calling for support.

In fact, 82-year-old Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills and Nash has already put money where his mouth is by donating £10,000 to the cause and his generosity has since been surpassed by Salford City Council themselves, who are setting aside a whopping £100k to help steer the club to safety.

As the constituency’s MP Rebecca Long-Bailey told the That’s TV network earlier this week, it is Salford Lads and Girls Club is “one of the most iconic buildings and organisations in Salford and it’s transformed countless lives with their activities.”

Be it the regular sports teams, music events, own charity fundraisers or their annual summer camp which has provided an outlet to generations of those less fortunate who may never have travelled outside their hometown without it, the club has had a huge impact on so many around Greater Manchester.

Indie-rock five-piece and fellow Mancunian band Rolla are also going out of their way to try and help the Grade II-listed by putting on a special one-off gig at the venue itself next month, with “every single penny” going towards keeping the doors open. It sold out almost immediately.

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Whether you’ve ever been there or not, it’s evident how much people care about this place and it’s moments like these when the community bands together that we’re most proud to be Mancs.

We have until the end of November to save Salford Lads and Girls Club and with more than 120 years of history, heritage and culture behind it, letting it die out simply isn’t an option.

The fundraiser has now reached over £130,000 of their overall £250,000 target with the help of council money, so please donate to the official GoFundMe page HERE if you can and help do your bit by resharing wherever possible.

Since 1903, their motto has been “to brighten young lives and make good citizens” – those values aren’t going anywhere. Let’s make a difference.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

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The touching tributes paid to Liam Payne by his One Direction bandmates

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson One Direction in 2014. Credit: Publicity picture

All four surviving members of One Direction have now shared their own personal tributes to Liam Payne, with whom they spent their formative years in one of the world’s biggest boybands.

Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson have all spoken about the death of their bandmate, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of just 31.

Liam Payne rocketed to fame on the X Factor and subsequently with boyband One Direction, before branching out on a solo career when the group disbanded.

He was found dead in Argentina earlier this week after falling from a third-floor window.

The tragic news has rocked the world of music, especially the fans who grew up listening to and loving One Direction.

His former bandmates Harry, Niall, Louis and Zayn had previously issued a joint tribute as One Direction, but have now individually shared their own thoughts.

And they’re all pretty heartbreaking.

Niall Horan described Liam’s infectious energy and passion while Harry Styles explained that his greatest joy was ‘making other people happy’.

You can read all four tributes to Liam Payne from One Direction below.

Harry Styles pays tribute to Liam Payne

Harry Styles shared a photo of Liam Payne on stage with his tribute. Credit: Instagram, @harrystyles
Harry Styles shared a photo of Liam Payne on stage with his tribute. Credit: Instagram, @harrystyles

I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing.

His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it.

Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious. He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend.

My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew and loved him, as I did.

Niall Horan’s tribute to Liam Payne

Niall Horan posted this old photo of him and Liam Payne together. Credit: Instagram, @niallhoran
Niall Horan posted this old photo of him and Liam Payne together. Credit: Instagram, @niallhoran

I’m absolutely devastated about the passing of my amazing friend, Liam. It just doesn’t feel real.

Lian had an energy for life and a passion for work that was infectious. He was the brightest in every room and always made everyone feel happy and secure.

All the laughs we had over the years, sometimes about the simplest of things, keep coming to mind through the sadness. We got to live out our wildest dreams together and I will cherish every moment we had forever. The bond and friendship we had doesn’t happen often in a lifetime.

I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.

My love and condolences go out to Geoff, Karen, Ruth, Nicola and of course his son Bear.

Thank you for everything, Payno. Love you brother.

Nialler

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Louis Tomlinson’s emotional tribute to Liam Payne

Louis Tomlinson paid an emotional tribute to Liam Payne. Credit: Instagram, @louist91
Louis Tomlinson paid an emotional tribute to Liam Payne. Credit: Instagram, @louist91

I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother.

Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul.I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18, I was instantly amazed by his voice but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for.

Liam was an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band.

And for the record, Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction. His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam.

A message to you Liam if you’re listening, I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life.

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I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.

I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.

I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.

Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X

Zayn Malik on Liam Payne

Zayn Malik and Liam Payne together. Credit: Instagram, @zayn
Zayn Malik and Liam Payne together as he joined the tributes shared by his One Direction bandmates. Credit: Instagram, @zayn

Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.

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I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.

When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.

Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no fucks about telling people when they were wrong.

Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.

When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional.

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I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next.

I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly.

I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are.

Love you bro

Featured image: Publicity picture

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