Sam Fender Age, Height & Biography

Sam Fender is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist from North Shields who has become one of the biggest rock stars of his generation. Born in 1994, he won the Brit Awards Critics’ Choice award in 2019 and his debut album Hypersonic Missiles went straight to number one in the UK. His second album, Seventeen Going Under, won him the Brit Award for British Rock Act and an Ivor Novello Award, and his third album, People Watching, also topped the UK chart in 2025.

Quick Facts

Full Name	Samuel Thomas Fender
Born	13 April 1994
Age	32 years old (as of November 2026)
Birthplace	North Shields, England
Nationality	English
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Occupation	Singer-Songwriter
Years Active	2017-present

Who Is Sam Fender?

Sam Fender is a singer-songwriter known for his powerful, anthemic rock songs about growing up in the North East of England. His music combines the influence of Bruce Springsteen, with whom he is often compared, with his own stories of working-class life, mental health and the changing world around him. He plays guitar and writes songs that have connected with huge audiences across the UK.

Fender was discovered while performing in a pub in North Shields, and he was signed soon afterwards. He released his debut single, Play God, in 2017, and his breakthrough came with the Dead Boys EP in 2018. He has released three studio albums, all of which reached number one in the UK, and he has won two Brit Awards. In June 2023 he headlined two sold-out nights at St James’ Park in Newcastle.

Early Life & Background

Samuel Thomas Fender was born on 13 April 1994 in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, England. He grew up in a musical family: his father Alan played in local bands and worked as a musician, and his mother was a nurse. He began playing the guitar as a child and started singing in pubs around North Shields while still a teenager.

Fender attended John Spence Community High School and Whitley Bay High School, and he worked in local pubs and restaurants while trying to establish himself as a musician. He was spotted while performing in a pub by Owain Davies, the manager of Ben Howard, who signed him and helped him record his first songs.

Career

Fender released his debut single, Play God, in 2017, and his Dead Boys EP followed in November 2018. In February 2019 he won the Brit Awards Critics’ Choice award, and in September that year he released his debut album, Hypersonic Missiles, which went straight to number one in the UK Albums Chart. The album featured the singles Dead Boys, Hypersonic Missiles, Will We Talk? and That Sound.

His second album, Seventeen Going Under, was released in October 2021 and also reached number one in the UK. The title track became his biggest hit, reaching number three in the UK Singles Chart, and it won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2022. In the same year he won the Brit Award for British Rock Act.

His third album, People Watching, was released in February 2025 and also reached number one in the UK, giving him three consecutive number-one albums. Its title track reached number four in the UK Singles Chart, and it was inspired by Fender’s late friend and mentor, who would watch people with him from a cafe in North Shields. He continues to tour extensively, playing to huge audiences in the UK and around the world.

Facts About Sam Fender

• He was discovered while performing in a pub in North Shields.
• He won the Brit Awards Critics’ Choice award in 2019.
• His song Seventeen Going Under won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically in 2022.
• He headlined two sold-out nights at St James’ Park in Newcastle in June 2023.
• All three of his studio albums have reached number one in the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions