Sam Fender shocks fans by performing in a local cover band

Sam Fender returned to his roots as he shocked fans by performing in local cover band amid BRIT Award nomination.

The multi-award winner, 31, who is nominated for four BRIT Awards, including Album of the Year, at Saturday’s ceremony, headed back to his hometown of North Shields last weekend. 

Despite having his own smash hits, Sam tried his hand at covering other artists’ songs at a charity gig, where he joined his dad and brother on stage as part of band The Pirates. 

The gig, which took place at King Street Social in North Shields last Saturday, was to raise funds for Motor Neuron Disease research in memory of late Tyneside hero Janine Turnbull, who was hailed for helping locals during the Covid pandemic and sadly passed away last year.

Those in attendance got quite the shock as musician Sam made a surprise appearance on stage.  

Sharing a clip on TikTok, one gig-goer wrote: ‘Imagine going for a pint in Shields and stumbling upon @Sam Fender, his brother and dad playing in a cover band down the social.’

While another said: ‘Rare .. Sam Fender playing and singing with his dad and brother on keyboard. All for a good cause #teamjanine raising awareness for MND. Real canny lads !’ 

A third shared a clip and said: ‘Sam Fender on stage in his local social club with his dad and his brother. This is the most wholesome thing ever. 

‘He’s about the win all the BRIT Awards and is currently Number One in the charts and this is his Saturday night. What a man.’

Fans who weren’t in attendance shared their jealousy, as they commented on the clips saying: ‘What a guy,’; ‘This is so wholesome,’;

‘Think I’m now a bit in love with Fenders Dad,’; ‘Give him all the awards he was nominated for,’; ‘What a legend,’;

‘Fab to see all 3 fenders together …. Clearly get their talent from Dad Alan.. Sam looks so proud & to be enjoying himself. …fab performances by all the band for a great cause ..’;

‘Think this is so wholesome. he is allowing the others to shine and not steal their limelight but supporting them at the same time,’; ‘Come on Sam wipe the floor with them at the brits,’; ‘The vocals are absolutely insane, fair play,’; ‘I love how humble Sam is and doing this,’;

‘Was great that he was able to do that and just be Sam local lad again,’; ‘No even jealous….nope not at all,’; ‘One of the most human artists.’

Sam could be in for a good night on Saturday at the BRITs – which has this year been relocated to Manchester. 

The Hypersonic Missiles hitmaker is among some of the most decorated stars ahead of Saturday’s ceremony as he is nominated in four categories; Artist of the Year, Song of the Year alongside Olivia Dean for their hit Rein Me In, Alternative Rock Act and Mastercard Album of the Year. 

Sisters will almost certainly be doing it for themselves when the 46th edition of the BRIT Awards launch at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena for the first time on Saturday evening.

Since removing gendered categories, such as Best Male and Best Female, the ceremony has faced backlash for the low number of female artists nominated, particularly in 2023 when the Artist Of The Year shortlist was entirely male. 

But 2026 will ring in the changes, with 70 percent of this year’s nominations being female or non-binary.

Lola Young and Olivia Dean lead the nominations with five each, closely followed by comeback queen Lily Allen, who has been recognised in three categories for her critically acclaimed fifth album, West End Girl.

The singer, 40, used the album to chronicle the collapse of her marriage to Stranger Things star David Harbour and his alleged infidelities while they were together.

She will go up against both Young and Dean for Artist Of The Year at the ceremony, while also competing for Album Of The Year and Pop Act.

Lola, 24, is also up for Breakthrough Artist and Alternative/Rock Act, but it is unknown if she will attend the ceremony.

Olivia, 26, became the first woman to claim the UK’s No 1 single and album in the same week since Adele in 2021, with her song Man I Need and album The Art Of Loving, both released in 2025. 

She has been nominated in five categories and will be performing at the Award ceremony.

British icons Pulp have received their first nomination for Group of the Year since 1996.

Hollywood is also well represented in this year’s nominations, as Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters group HUNTR/X are nominated for International Song of the Year with Golden, and are shortlisted for International Group.

Meanwhile, Cynthia Erivo has secured her first nomination with her rendition of Wicked’s Defying Gravity in contention for Song of the Year with Mastercard.

Other international stars up for awards include Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga and Chappell Roan.

The BRIT Awards have been held annually at London’s O2 Arena since 2011, but the Daily Mail revealed that the annual showpiece, regarded as the biggest night in British music, will be held in Manchester this year and is likely to move around the UK in different locations for the foreseeable future.

Comedian Jack Whitehall returns to present the ceremony for the sixth time, having previously hosted the event in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2025.