LIVE REVIEWS
Tearing through the heaven-sent guitar solo of ‘The Borders’, Sam Fender has little idea that his beloved Newcastle United FC have just scored a last-minute equaliser against Liverpool. “Three-all? Fucking come on!” is his reaction when the crowd – comprising hundreds of black-and-white NUFC shirts that now characterise his concerts – vivaciously wave him down to break the news, which only adds to his buoyant mood.
We’re inside Leeds’ First Direct Arena for the first UK date of Fender’s ‘People Watching’ tour, warming up for his third album – and stadium shows – next year. Since last performing here in 2021, the success of his second album ‘Seventeen Going Under’ has propelled him to megastar status – now arguably the greatest guitar act of his generation – via an NME Album of the Year and headlining performances at Reading & Leeds.
Another thing that’s changed since 2021 is the ticket price: £39 to £79 (including fees) to stand at this arena, with just a handful of songs released in that time period. Despite the tour’s instant sell-out, Fender’s new material comes with significant expectations to justify this price hike – although it does include a welcome £1 donation to Music Venue Trust.
The delicate ‘Wild Long Lie’, which was released on Monday, gradually ascends into a theatrical masterpiece as Fender whips out a Gibson Les Paul for its unmistakable War On Drugs-esque solo (frontman Adam Granduciel co-produced the track). The euphoric reaction to ‘People Watching’, meanwhile, confirms his golden touch with title tracks.
The upbeat ‘Nostalgia’s Lie’ is warm and cosy, almost like an older sibling to ‘Get You Down’, as Fender appears to contest with his stardom (“What is this place? / Can you take me back to somewhere, darling? / Where I feel safe”). The mellow ‘Arm’s Length’, however, never quite reaches the full form it teases, despite some glorious HAIM-style gang vocals at points. As Fender himself admits, perhaps too literally and self-consciously: “It’s got a shit little riff.”
Though warnings of mosh pit etiquette and a reminder that “You might have heard this song [‘Seventeen Going Under’] on TikTok” display Fender’s awareness of the mainstream audience he now commands, his rawer early material cuts through with unbelievable precision. ‘All Is On My Side’ is a delicate highlight, while the hell-raising one-two of ‘Spice’ (which briefly nods to Queens of the Stone Age’s ‘Song For The Dead’) and ‘Howdon Aldi Death Queue’ still refuse to budge from the setlist. ‘The Dying Light’ feels equally immovable, perhaps a lesson learnt from its omission at Monday’s show in Dublin.
The climax of ‘Seventeen Going Under’ and ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ reminds fans, in turn, of the two timeless albums that “got us into this mess in the first place” to coin an old phrase of Fender’s. There’s no radical shake-up of the setlist, but rather a sense of self-confidence to double down on a reliable approach that’s served him well. While tonight affirms that ‘People Watching’ material will have to fight for its place, a successful balance of old and new could hoist Sam Fender’s career to unprecedented heights. Glastonbury, anyone?
‘The Kitchen’
‘Getting Started’
‘The Borders’
‘Wild Long Lie’
‘All Is On My Side’
‘Nostalgia’s Lie’
‘Arm’s Length’
‘Will We Talk?’
‘People Watching’
‘Spice’
‘Howdon Aldi Death Queue’
‘Get You Down’
‘Spit Of You’
‘The Dying Light’
‘Seventeen Going Under’
‘Hypersonic Missiles’
LIVE REVIEWS
The closing hours of Reading 2026 have finally arrived. Florence + The Machine brought the rain during ‘Dog Days Are Over’ at The Grid, opening the heavens and leaving the festival site completely soaked. The weary fans who have stayed behind are wet, exhausted and clearly feeling the effects of the weekend. What they need now is one final enormous celebration to make the wait worthwhile.
The Gallery tent comes alive as the speakers blast ‘Favourite’ by Friday’s headliners and fellow countrymen Fontaines D.C., receiving the kind of reaction usually reserved for ‘Mr Brightside’ at a drunken wedding reception. Moments later, Kneecap display their familiar statement accusing Israel of carrying out genocide against the people of Palestine and Lebanon, with support from the UK government. It captures the Belfast rap trio perfectly, combining serious political messages with an unapologetic party atmosphere.
“We use our platform to talk about what we believe is right,” Mo Chara explains during the performance, before recognising those who “aren’t so fucking lucky” and whose voices have been suppressed. He soon encourages the audience to roar “fuck Netanyahu” and “free free Palestine”. Later, he starts a powerful chant of “Aaaaaa-ndy Buuurn-ham’s a waaaaaaan-ker” to the melody of ‘Seven Nation Army’, targeting our new Prime Minister over his claim that “a united Ireland is off the table”. Laughing, he asks: “The BBC won’t broadcast that, or will they?” As it turned out, they did not.
Away from the headlines and the controversy, there is no denying the connection Kneecap have built with their audience. Politics may shape the conversation, but the crowd also came to enjoy themselves, ready for a rave after the rally. The performance begins carefully with the heavy rumble of ‘Smugglers & Scholars’, before exploding during the Grian Chatten collaboration ‘Better Way To Live’ and the threatening energy of ‘Sick In The Head’. “Are ya ready for a mad one?” Mo Chara shouts. The response is already obvious.
The atmosphere becomes increasingly chaotic as the hip hop rhythm of ‘Cold At The Top’ and the hypnotic trance sounds of ‘An Ra’ send the entire tent into motion. The trio jokingly thank the UK for everything it has given Ireland, listing UKIP, fish and chips, a mental health crisis, Jimmy Saville, HP Sauce and Bloody Sunday. However, the show reaches another level once the second half begins. The explosive ‘Sayonara’ brings the ‘beef’ to ‘IBEEFA’, while ‘Get Your Brits Out’ and ‘Guilty Conscience’ give the crowd every reason to obey Móglaí Bap’s demand to “oooopen up the piiiiiit”.
Anyone watching closely may have questioned why the cameras continued to focus on Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara. The pair eventually reveal that they have spent recent weeks performing alongside a “provisional” DJ Próvai. Wearing the familiar tricolour balaclava, the temporary replacement handles his role as the crowd agitator with confidence while their bandmate enjoys some paternity leave. “Some things are more important than music, and that’s family,” they explain. How sweet. Móglaí Bap quickly destroys the tender moment by adding: “As you might know, the Brits took all our potatoes from Ireland; they took all our cocaine,” before declaring, “but we still have all our caaandy.” The group then charge directly into one of the biggest tracks ever written about extremely powerful ketamine.
‘Liar’s Tale’ sparks another huge reaction with its response to Keir Starmer, “genocide armer”, while the group warn that “you’re not getting away with doing nothing”. It is a politically charged message hidden inside an irresistible anthem from musicians who have experienced the “belly of the beast” through the legal system. Their latest album, ‘Fenian’, has helped Kneecap fully embrace the celebration that has always been part of their identity. Their live production now feels capable of filling arenas, blending the intimacy of a late night lock in with the rhythmic force and visual scale of The Chemical Brothers, the reckless electronic punk spirit of The Prodigy, and the fearless political honesty of Public Enemy. The spectacular visuals complete the experience.
Kneecap fans at Reading 2026. Credit: Andy Ford for NME
Kneecap fans at Reading 2026. Credit: Andy Ford for NME
Closing with the powerful combination of ‘Fenian’, ‘H.O.O.D.’ and the enormous ‘The Recap’, Kneecap bring our final celebration at Reading to a thrilling conclusion while also finishing their last festival appearance of the summer. “It’s been a pleasure to spend it with you mad c**ts,” Mo Chara says before leaving the stage. The feeling is mutual.
Return to NME here for the newest reports, reviews, photographs, conversations and further coverage from Reading & Leeds 2026.
