North East superstar Sam Fender is no stranger to visiting our bustling city but this time fans of the singer are upset with the prices of tickets for his upcoming tour.
The Seventeen Going Under hitmaker has come under fire the past few days due to the ‘excessive’ and ‘hypocritical’ pricing of tickets for his upcoming tour.
Earlier this month, the Geordie rock singer started teasing his tour through visuals displayed around suspected venues for his upcoming tour, with one appearing just outside of Co-op Live.
Simply titled the ‘People Watching Tour’, Fender has announced dates and tickets for his 2024 Winter tour with prices reaching £80 and above.
The Newcastle musician is known for having a high majority of working-class fans and these are the very people criticising these ticket prices.
Another big demographic for Fender fanatics is students. They too play a huge factor in the star’s career, making up a large proportion of the rock singer’s fanbase.
£80 for a sam fender ticket is insane what is happening to our gig economy man i remember when i could see an artist play arenas for 40/50 quid and didn’t have to go through ticketmaster scams to do so christ alive
— gia(dh) (@GlAODONOHOE) October 18, 2024
don’t get me wrong I love sam fender but it’s ironic he goes on about the working class and how the north east is deprived and then goes on to charge £80 for a ticket to his gig
— becca ☆.*｡･ (@fakeitflowersx) October 18, 2024
Fender has been vocal throughout his career about giving back to charities and organisations with two 2020 singles raising money for separate causes.
He joined the Foo Fighters ‘Times Like These’ celebrity cover recording as part of BBC Radio One’s Live Lounge Allstars project during the pandemic to raise money for both Children In Need and Comic Relief.
In November of the same year, he also distributed ‘Winter Song’ with the single being used to raise money for The Big Issue, a charity known for creating opportunities for people experiencing homelessness across the UK.
Some have come out to defend the 30-year-old by arguing that tour pricing has more to do with management, promoters and venues than it does with the artists themselves.
Nevertheless, lots of fans have still taken issue with Fender over the ticket prices, especially given the working-class nature of not only his background but the content of his music, insisting instead that Sam and plenty of other artists do have a say over costs.
Paul Heaton capped all his arena tickets off at £35 and still profited from the tour.. artists DO have control over prices.
Sam Fender charging £80+ for arena standing tickets is just disgusting. Grew up working class and has a HUGE percentage of WC fans. Do better. pic.twitter.com/FrsCs5p6rm— tiger b (@tiger_brooke) October 18, 2024
Announcing shows in Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow and one right here in Manchester at the already world-leading Co-op Live arena this winter, this is the ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ singer’s most high-profile UK tour to date.
With the scramble for pre-sale codes already having caused plenty of panic online and with the increasingly popular Wunderhorse once again set to serve as the main support act on his first tour since Spring 2022, tickets are set to be in serious demand.
The Newquay-founded band have seen acclaim and accolades this year with their latest project, Midas, even gaining the title of ‘greatest gig of my life’ by one member of our very own Audio North team.
With dates throughout the festive period this year, Fender is set to begin his tour on 2 December with the Newcastle date on 20 December undergoing balloted tickets due to demand to watch him play the massive gig in his hometown.
Read more:
- Blossoms set to headline big summer festival set in Delamere Forest
- MTV EMAs reveal full list of performers and presenters for Manchester debut at Co-op Live
- ‘Buzzing’ Richard Ashcroft announced as first support act for Oasis reunion tour
The ‘People Watching Tour’ to Manchester on Friday, 6 December with general admission going live this Friday, HERE – it’s just up to you whether you’re willing to pay those prices.
What do you make of the Sam Fender ticket prices – will you be going for them or is between £60 and £90+ for seated and standing simply too much in your opinion?
Featured Images – Niall Lea/Press Image (supplied)
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