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Simon Duke

Who is Sam Fender? Brit Awards glory on the cards for North Shields singer

Tuesday night looks set to be a huge one in the career of Sam Fender as he goes for glory at the Brit Awards and also performs at the massive event.

With a chart-topping debut album already under his belt from 2019 with Hypersonic Missiles, this past 12 months has seen Sam's star soar even further.

Second LP Seventeen Going Under outsold the rest of the top 10 combined when it shot straight to number 1 in the autumn, with Geordie icons Ant and Dec handed over the number 1 trophy to Sam, much to his surprise.

READ MORE: Brit Awards 2022 LIVE winners updated as trophies handed out at O2 Arena

Sam has now played a number of sell out tours in the UK, as well as gigs across the world including America, where he also had the honour of playing on The Tonight Show last year.

He is up for Best Rock/Alternative, Artist of the Year and Album of the Year at the Brit Awards 2022, being one of the most shortlisted acts among this year's Brit nominees.

Who is Sam Fender?

Sam, full name Samuel Thomas Fender, was born in North Shields on April 25, 1984 to parents Alan and Shirley.

He went to school at John Spence Community High School and later sixth form at Whitley Bay High School, where he met now bandmate Joe Atkinson.

Brits Critics Choice winner Sam Fender (Sam Fender)

A keen music lover from a young age, Sam made a name for himself in his late teens as a performer at local pubs and open mic nights.

He was spotted performing at his favourite boozer Low Lights Tavern by Ben Howard's manager Owain Davies who took him on.

Having released first single Play God independently in 2017, which featured on the soundtrack to the famous FIFA football game, Sam saw his profile sky rocket when he was given a place on the much looked at BBC Sound of 2018 list.

Still unsigned, he made the cut along mainstream artists like Sigrid, Khalid and Yxng Bane.

Sam Fender plays the Mouth of the Tyne Festival, Tynemouth, his first big home town show (© JOHN MILLARD)

Things got even better for Sam at the start of 2019 when he was given the Brits Critics Choice award.

That kick started a year that saw him play to packed crowds across the globe, including a memorable one in front of his home faithful at the Mouth of the Tyne Festival and at Radio 1's Big Weekend.

Sam has also supported Bob Dylan at Hyde Park at the end of last year sold out the Utilita Arena in Newcastle and the iconic Alexandra Palace 'Ally Pally' in London.

Sam's hits so far have included Will We Talk, Hypersonic Missiles and Seventeen Going Under, which made the top 5.

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