How Sam Fender delivers far more than just concerts

In my fifty plus years living in the North-East, I've seen many extraordinary things at St. James' Park; the pitch invasion that caused the FA Cup quarter final game against Nottingham Forest to be abandoned in 1974; two Newcastle players, Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer fighting one another on the pitch.

- Peter Mortimer

I have even seen my own team Notts County score the odd goal here, albeit the memory of such a sweet experience is now faint and it was at a time when the stadium was a bit of a dump if we compare it to the present cathedral which itself may be simply a memory before too long if current plans develop and the toon ends up with a brand new venue.

And now we've had the latest Sam Fender concerts, which I'm certain for the 150,000 or so people who attended over the three nights, will prove an occasion unlikely ever to be forgotten.

And just when we the audience wondered whatever else could happen at this extraordinary event, the entire vast stage went dark and for a couple of minutes we could see absolutely nothing. When the light came back on, the entire Easington Colliery Brass Band was seated before us, instruments and all. And then the band struck up.