The voice of North Shields arrives at Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre
One of North Shields’ finest songwriters is set to make his Barnoldswick debut.
Liam Fender is set to make his long-awaited debut appearance at the Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre in September for a performance that promises to be one of the venue's most captivating evenings of 2026.
Fender, who is the older brother of stadium-filling phenomenon Sam Fender, will headline the intimate Music & Arts Centre on Wednesday, September 23rd. The 41-year-old has patiently carved out a distinctive artistic identity all of his own, drawing inspiration from masters of atmosphere and storytelling, including Richard Hawley, Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Neil Hannon.
Those influences can be heard in songs that feel cinematic, reflective and beautifully observed, painting vivid portraits of forgotten streets, coastal towns, shipyards and communities shaped by resilience. His rich, soulful voice carries echoes of the North East while his songwriting possesses a timeless quality that recalls Britain's greatest lyricists.
His reputation has continued to grow following the critically acclaimed documentary 800 Years: Here We Are, an ambitious and deeply personal love letter to his hometown of North Shields. The accompanying single, Here We Are, released in late 2025, became the emotional centrepiece of a remarkable three-year creative project celebrating community, identity and belonging.
Rather than relying on nostalgia, Fender captured something far more powerful—the pride, struggles and enduring spirit of a town whose people continue to inspire him. The project firmly established him as one of the North East's most authentic contemporary voices and demonstrated that his songwriting is rooted in real lives rather than passing trends.
Those who see Fender perform leave talking about the songs, the stories and the emotional connection he creates with an audience. In an era increasingly dominated by social media hype, Fender remains refreshingly committed to substance over spectacle, and his performance in Barnoldswick is an intimate environment that provides the perfect setting to showcase his music. Tickets are available at https://www.barnoldswickmusicandartscentre.com/liam-fender-2026