Sam Fender cancels homecoming gig as he shares ‘haemorrhaged vocal cord’ update
Sam Fender has had to call off two of his concert dates because of a vocal cord injury.
The artist famous for songs like "Seventeen Going Under" and "Hypersonic Missiles" was in the middle of his People Watching tour in anticipation of his third studio album's launch. Fender, who is 30 years old, has now announced that the concerts in Glasgow and Newcastle have been called off based on the recommendations of two ear, nose, and throat specialists.
Fender took to Twitter/X to announce some disappointing news: he's ending this year's tour. He said, “Glasgow and Newcastle, as many of you are aware, I've been battling the flu for a few days. No matter how affected my voice was, I tried my best to prepare for last night’s performance and give you an amazing show.”
Today, I underwent an ENT examination with a camera down my throat, and unfortunately, I've injured my right vocal cord, leaving me devastated. This tour has been amazing, and all I really want is to get back on stage and sing for you all tonight. However, two ENT specialists have warned me that performing could cause permanent harm to my voice. They've strongly advised me to rest my vocal cords and avoid speaking for an extended period to allow for proper healing.
"I’ve followed all the rules this tour and kept a very strict routine, but it’s just my luck. I truly apologize to everyone heading out tonight. We’re working on a way to rearrange things for you, and I’ll share more updates soon."
Fender’s announcement brought in a wave of supportive messages from fans encouraging the artist to take care of himself before a busy schedule in 2025. He was scheduled to perform at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro tonight (December 17) and would return for a show at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on December 20.
The artist is set to drop his new album, People Watching, on February 21. The unexpected cancellation won't impact upcoming dates for the People Watching tour, which are listed below. All shows are sold out.
March 4 – Olympia, Paris March 5 – 013 Poppodium, Tilburg March 8 – Halle 622, Zurich March 10 – Palladium, Cologne March 12 – Zenith, Munich March 13 – ChorusLife Arena, Bergamo March 16 – Uber Eats Music Hall, Berlin March 18 – Afas Live, Amsterdam March 19 – Forest National, Brussels
Fender has announced that for every ticket sold for their UK tour, they will donate £1 to the Music Venue Trust to help support small music venues. In addition, Fender will perform three shows at St. James' Park next June, along with a concert at London Stadium.
