Sam Fender live at Utilita Arena Birmingham shows why the Geordie guitar hero is just 'Getting Started' - review

It's clear Sam Fender has come a long way from his humble beginnings in small venues. Five years after his debut, he's now a major festival headliner, has filled countless parks and has packed Newcastle United's football ground.

And he shows no signs of slowing down. Fender has become one of the UK's breakthrough talents, breaking the rare barrier between Boomers and Gen Z. And, now, the guitar hero is back on the road for his pre-album tour.

If these shows are anything to go by, those stadiums will be a walk in the park. Who knows, maybe the Glastonbury headline slot could be at 'Arm's Length?'

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Fender proves that his music always ends up on this level. His powerful 'Dead Boys', which tackles male suicide, hits hard in the opening moments. 'The Borders' also saw an 18-year-old fan donning a Toon Army shirt join him on stage. Fender quickly acknowledged, saying: "I wouldn't have the balls to do that at 18."

He also gave fans a taste of his upcoming third album 'People Watching', set to release next year, a delight to fans. Other unreleased tracks were played, giving further tastes of how growing up in the Tyneside fishing town shaped his life.

With just two prior albums under his belt, the setlist contains few surprises, and it's all killer and no filler. Fender returned to the big hitters that got him to where he is today, deploying hits such as Seventeen Going Under, a confetti-strewn performance of The Dying Light, and a not-so-location-appropriate cover of The Clash’s London Calling.

He and the band round off the party in style, quite literally, with a rendition of Happy Birthday To You for drummer Drew Michael and a cake to boot. P.S. Happy Birthday, Drew!

An encore of Hypersonic Missiles, which is accompanied by billowing fog machines, ticker-tape cannons and fireworks, finished the electric night. If this is Sam Fender just getting started, then he will soon be going hypersonic.