Sam Fender cancels remaining 2024 UK tour dates

“On this tour I did everything by the rules, living like a monk. It’s so unfortunate.” So he declared Sam Fender regarding the compulsion to interrupt his tour of which he had to cancel the remaining dates scheduled for 2024 to a hemorrhage on the right vocal cord.

The UK & Ireland tour, which kicked off on 2 December, saw the donation of one pound for every ticket sold to the Music Venue Trustin an effort to provide support to grassroots locals.

After the first of two scheduled nights at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro Arena took place on December 16, Fender took to social media to confirm that the remaining 2024 dates have been cancelled. This includes the second night in Glasgow on the 17th and a show at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle scheduled for Friday the 20th.

“Glasgow and Newcastle, as many of you know I had the flu for a few days. No matter how bad my voice was, last night I did everything I could to get it back on track and put on the best show I could,” he began in a statement shared on X/Twitter.

“Today I had an ENT exam and unfortunately I had a haemorrhage on my right vocal cord. I am absolutely devastated. This has been the best tour so far and all I want to do is get up and sing for you all again tonight” , he added. “Two different ENT doctors have told me that if I perform tonight I risk lasting damage to my voice and have advised me to go on vocal rest and not use my voice for an extended period until it heals.”

He continued, sharing the efforts he made to make the tour go smoothly, including avoiding alcohol to protect his voice. “I did everything by the rules of this tour living like a monk, it’s so unfortunate,” he wrote. “I’m so, so sorry for all of you who are coming tonight. We’re trying to find a way to reschedule the concert for all of you, more news soon.”

All dates were organized to celebrate the arrival of Fender’s third album, “People Watching“, out February 21. The record was produced by Fender along with his bandmates Dean Thompson and Joe Atkinson, producer Markus Dravs and Adam Granduciel of War On Drugs.

It will be his first LP after his 2021 sophomore album”Seventeen Going Under” (Read the review here).

Live promotion of the new record will begin with his biggest headline show at the London Stadium on June 6th, Fender will also play Newcastle’s St. James’ Park on June 12th, 14th and 15th. The musician has played a 52,000 capacity venue in his hometown as early as 2023, while with the 2025 date Fender will break the record for the most headlining gigs at St James’ Park, an honor previously held by the Rolling Stones.

The English singer-songwriter is expected in Italy on March 13th for a live performance at the ChorusLife Arena in Bergamo