Sam Fender chats to Live4ever at SXSW (photo: Paul Bachmann / Live4ever Media)
Sam Fender played the first major UK concert in months last night as Newcastle Racecourse was transformed into a socially distanced outdoor space dubbed the Virgin Money Unity Arena.
2,500 people – each in their own family and friends bubble – were kept safely apart on 500 separate viewing platforms as Fender helped the UK’s live music scene take its tentative first steps back from lockdown, very much in a ‘new normal’.
“Absolutely buzzing for this, getting the band and crew back together for probably our only gig of the year,” Fender had said of the show. “Apparently this is the first socially distanced show of its kind and it’s amazing to see the north east leading the way, it’s huge for the area. There’s a few hundred platforms with five people on each. Grab a few mates and let’s have a platform party! We’re going to play a couple of brand new tunes too.”
Other artists including The Libertines, Two Door Cinema Club and Supergrass will also be performing during the coming weeks.
#SamCam @samfendermusic #VMUnityArena ???????? pic.twitter.com/hSetAWojjH
— Virgin Money Unity Arena (@VMUnityArena) August 11, 2020
Wow that was special! Thank you to everyone that came and made history tonight! #Goosebumps ???? pic.twitter.com/qHoRjWvbZ5
— Virgin Money Unity Arena (@VMUnityArena) August 11, 2020