Sam Fender • Young Jesus • April 23, 2025 • The Union
Reviewed and Photographed by Morgan Newbold
Last week, Salt Lake City welcomed Sam Fender for the very first time, to a long-awaited show at The Union! After touring since 2017 and playing the biggest festivals in the world, fans were ecstatic to finally see him make a stop in Utah on his ‘People Watching Tour’. I certainly was excited.
Sam Fender has been on my bucket list of artists to see for a few years now! I arrived at the venue just before the opener and met up to chat with my friends who were there. One of them photographed with me, one was at the barricade, and the other I watched with in the back. We all had an absolute blast.
Young Jesus
The openers, Young Jesus, were incredible! They’re an indie rock band from the Chicago area now relocated to Los Angeles. They had a rich, folky sound and were also really funny! Truly an underrated group that I will be listening to now.
Sam Fender
I was honestly really surprised at how small and underrated Sam is in Utah. I was expecting a nearly sold-out crowd! However, it just made for a more intimate experience that I much preferred, anyway! I have no doubts that Utah will stop sleeping on Sam the next time he comes to town. He deserves nothing less!
Now, let me catch you up on the icon that is Sam Fender. Hailing from North Shields, England, he began his music career performing in local pubs and gained early recognition in 2017 with the single “Play God.” His style blends heartland rock, indie rock, and lyrical storytelling. Fender’s breakthrough came with his debut album Hypersonic Missiles, in 2019, which topped the UK Albums Chart and was praised for its sharp commentary on modern life and working-class struggles.
He followed up with Seventeen Going Under in 2021, a critically acclaimed album that further established his reputation. The title track became an anthem of resilience. Known for his energetic live performances and politically aware songwriting, Fender has received multiple awards, including the Brit Award for Best British Alternative/Rock Act and an Ivor Novello Award for songwriting.
He continues to be a leading voice in modern British rock. His newest album, People Watching, is a masterful collection of heartfelt tracks with upbeat and yearning melodies that are absolutely stunning and catchy. The album achieved significant commercial success, debuting at number one on the UK Albums Chart within its first week.
When the lights went out for Sam to finally take the stage, I stood ready to be, admittedly, stunned by his presence. First, the band walked out, all looking like sweet angels, and then Sam walked out with a huge smile on his face and waved to everyone. I looked over at my friend and smiled. YEAH. Icon. The crowd erupted in cheers louder than you would expect from its size.
They opened with Dead Boys, Getting Started, and my personal favorite right now, Arm’s Length. I was having a great time singing along as I photographed this insanely talented group of musicians. They are so humble and sweet, and so funny! Sam’s voice is gorgeous. He would belt and fill the entire room with warmth. He played a shorter set, but balanced it perfectly between all three of his albums. I’m in love with the new album and haven’t stopped listening to it since it dropped.
Halfway through the night, they played a brand new song called Tyrants, which was released just two days later on Sam’s birthday! It was excellent. I had to stop and dance to People Watching and sway to Little Bit Closer. They sound JUST like their studio recordings if not 10x better. As expected. The lighting was a mostly soft hue of whites and yellows, but also blue and red, which I was very satisfied with; it felt very fitting. The fans were jumping throughout the night, singing their hearts out and swaying all together for the acoustic tracks.
They also brought up a fan to play with them; a local 18-year-old named Isaak! He ripped! They closed out the set with Seventeen Going Under, I’m Always on Stage, and Hypersonic Missiles, of course! It was so wonderful. After multiple shows in a row that week, I confidently felt that Sam’s was my favorite.
I highly recommend that anyone who knows or doesn’t know Sam Fender go see him live. Before you know it, he’ll be playing Utah’s biggest venue. Catch him while he’s still on the rise. Unreal Experience!