Brit Awards 2022 recap: Who did Sam Fender thank in his speech and which song did he perform?

Sam Fender came away from the 2022 Brit Awards having had a fantastic night at London’s O2 Arena. The North Shields local picked up the award for Best Alternative/Rock Act at the ceremony on the south bank of the Thames.

The North Shields local ended the night on a high despite not winning the Artist Of The Year or Album Of The Year categories with an uplifting performance of the title track from the album which got him nominated, ‘Seventeen Going Under.’

Fender had previously promised that the second trophy would join his first Brit Award – which he won in 2019 through the Critics' Choice Award, now renamed the Rising Star Award – at the Low Lights Tavern in North Shields where he used to work behind the bar.

As an artist who has kept the North East close to his heart, Fender ensured to reference his home region throughout his speech after the success, saying: “Thanks to everybody back in Shields and to everybody in the North East Homeless Centre who’s watching right now, who we support and love.”

Accepting the award with his full band including Johnny ‘Blue Hat’ Davies- who was wearing Newcastle United’s iconic 1996-97 home shirt, Fender also thanked the fans who voted for him as part of the voting process.

The Best Alternative/Rock Act category was one of four awards decided by public vote and Fender beat Coldplay, Glass Animals,Tom Grennan and Wolf ALice to the win.

The most successful artist of the night, Adele, beat him to the Artist Of The Year and Album Of The Year awards with her 2021 release ‘30’. This year marked her return to the ceremony after her 2017 success.

2022 is set to be an equally large year for Sam Fender following the release of ‘Seventeen Going Under’ and Metro Radio Arena shows in 2021. He returns to the arena in April for two sold out homecoming shows as part of his UK tour before a summer which sees him support the Killers on three nights of their rescheduled World Tour and festival dates as well as a much anticipated headline set at London’s Finsbury Park.