Fender stratospheric

Not too long ago, Sam Fender was pulling pints in his local pub in northern England. Now he’s hotly tipped to be one of 2019’s biggest musical success stories, writes Tony Clayton-Lea

Sam Fender: ‘A lot of the time I’m just trying to figure out things for myself’ Pic: Bryan Meade

If you’re ever looking for someone to talk the hind legs off a donkey, do the best you can to contact Sam Fender – the English singer/songwriter doesn’t stop chatting from first question to last.

It seems clear that Fender – once an obscurity, now tipped as a 2019 music industry success story – knows how lucky he is. Five years ago, at the age of 17, living in less than favourable conditions ...