It’s been an incredibly busy year for Sam Fender, a new album, a tour, three dates at St James Park and then a string of shows dotted across Europe, including this one, at Wythenshawe Park for the summer.
Support acts consisted of Bugman, Charlie Noordeweir and Olivia Dean.
On the tram to Wythenshaw Park I felt excited, I still had a bit of a buzz from the final night of St James Park and just prayed I had a better view this time and to also see Olivia Dean at least.
After getting off at the wrong tram stop (turns out it was Moor Road, oops!) and what felt like a 5-mile walk, we made it to the gig area in Wythenshawe Park, where Olivia Dean was on, but we caught most of her set.
Olivia Dean at Wythenshawe Park 2025 – Photo Credit: Hayley Grice
It’s no surprise that she’s gained serious popularity in the last year or so, her stage presence and crowd interaction is polished, fun and full of energy, it was a clear improvement of the crowd knowing more of her songs this time round, hearing some sing-a-longs even from the security check point!
From the songs I actually saw, “It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be” was definitely a highlight (and was featured on the final Bridget Jones film if you didn’t know) and she did infact acknowledge Bridget Jones, I also enjoyed “Ladies Room” and “The Hardest Part” too – Olivia oozes confidence on stage and has the vocals to back it up, so it’s clear why Sam has gone one step further and included her in a re-release of “Rein Me In”.
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Now to the main event, I’ve not been to a gig at Wythenshawe Park before and I’d heard mixed reviews, some loved it, some weren’t so keen – and this seemed to be the case for Sam Fender too.
More on that later though, and well, we were treated to a surprise shake-up when it came to the setlist…
Sam Fender at Wythenshawe Park 2025 – Photo Credit: Hayley Grice
Sam and the band burst onto the stage with a warm reception, after having them sing along to “Hey Jude” by the Beatles, it was clear that the crowd was ready and he opened with a surprise with “Angel in Lothian”.
It’s a fan favourite and it was obvious of the shock of people around me (myself and my friend included!) and I thought that would be the only surprise of the night, but after a big reception from the opener, Sam and the band cracked on.
He did express his disappointment with how far away the crowd seemed, and says we could all do with being a little bit closer, something that has been echoed by fans on social media since the gig, I can’t speak for the entire crowd as I was only really in two areas for the entire set, but people in my area were having a great time, but I did notice there was a bit of disconnection at times.
Then the second song, was “Spice”. – excuse me?! I was shook.
As was everyone else around me, it was a welcome edition to the setlist and one I feel has been missing from previous sets, there was jumping, singing and general bonding of members of the crowd from that track – and for me it didn’t stop there.
“Will We Talk” followed, and it was well placed in the set, still had that energy and built on it, and “Getting Started” was after, which is what I was expecting to be the opener – it was always a good track to open with but with the setlist so far, I will happily allow it!
“Arms Length” was next and that will always be a choice of mine for a Sam Fender set, it’s a stunning track and forever grateful to Brooke Bentham for getting it added onto the album, around me were people singing “Do you have to know me, know me, know me” back and Sam was doing his best to keep the crowd engaged and getting them involved, which given him expressing his disappointment with the distance earlier, I admired.
Another personal favourite “The Borders” came next and Sam saw a fan asking to play it with him, so he invited up 16-year-old Noah to play with him, which you can tell made his night, if not his life!
People Watching – The Title Song – Sam Fender – Wythenshawe Park 2025 – Photo Credit: Hayley Grice
It couldn’t have been a Sam Fender show without the tour and album title track? I felt the crowd come back to life here a little bit, even though around me they hadn’t been too bad, I saw the further sides light up for “People Watching” and it’s a brilliant track, the graphics and videos on the stage screen really added to it and the sing-along from the crowd lifted the mood instantly.
There were more fan favourites included “Dead Boys” and “Howden Aldi Death Queue” and newer hits like “Tyrants” complete with fire popping into the atmosphere, I was disappointed to see no “Rein Me In” with Olivia Dean, especially considering she was the support, I guess we won’t find out why anytime soon, and since the gig, I’ve since seen that “The Dying Light” was also cut, which is a shame – but Sam acknowledged after “Seventeen Going Under” that he was being told to “hurry along” as he was running close to the half 10 curfew.
Before going into the final song, he acknowledged another fan holding up a “Angel in Lothian” sign saying “We played it first man, put it down” which was pretty funny, he also acknowledged the issues he’d had with his vocals in the last year or so and promised a fourth album next year! He thanked the crowd and went into “Hypersonic Missiles” and ended with a big confetti cannon and fireworks, naturally, it was perfect to tie it all together.
Sam Fender live at Wythenshaw Park 2025 – Photo Credit: Hayley Grice
Despite the issues with Wythenshaw Park, a fantastic gig by Sam and the band, an incredible setlist (with some missing ones of course…) and most importantly, the promise of new music.
I can’t wait, and I think many will agree, watch this space.
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