Sam Fender cancels more gigs as health issues worsen
Poorly Sam Fender has pulled out of some of his European festival dates after suffering another vocal cord haemorrhage.
The musician, who recently played in front of a total of 150,000 people at three sold-out concerts inside St James' Park, Newcastle, posted a lengthy statement on his Instagram story explaining the decision. The 31-year-old has been told by his ears, nose and throat doctor that he has a haemorrhage .
He has been advised not to sing for the next two weeks to prevent 'lasting damage to [his] vocal cords'. Telling fans the bad news, he said: "Hey everyone, at the beginning of the week I got my voice checked by my ENT doctor and the cords were slightly swollen.
'After a few days rest I was advised by my team that I was okay to perform. On stage at Silverstone I could feel that things were a lot harder than usual, I felt I needed to push a lot harder to sing – this is never a good sign. I've just been checked by my ENT again today, as I was concerned about it, and it's transpired that I've had a haemorrhage on one of my vocal cords.
'I've been advised to be on vocal restriction and to not sing for the next 14 days,' he added. "If I were to play at these next shows I would risk causing lasting damage to my vocal cords. This means I cannot perform at the upcoming Rock Werchter, Down the Rabbit Hole, NOS Alive, and Montreux Jazz Festivals.
'I'm so sorry to everyone who is coming to those festivals with our show in mind. Our fans are the most important thing to us, I hate letting people down and I hate not being able to sing for weeks as it is my only real passion in life.'
The Hypersonic Missiles singer was forced to cancel a number of gigs on his 2024 tour after suffering a similar injury to his vocal cords. Sam has been on a stadium tour this summer in support of his third studio album People Watching which included dates at the London Stadium and St James' Park, the home of his beloved Premier League team Newcastle United.
Earlier this year, Sam was named Best Alternative / Rock Act at the BRIT Awards where he performed his single People Watching with his band.
Sam previously spoke openly about taking time off to prioritise his wellbeing. In 2022, he cancelled several performances, citing "burnout" from touring. At the time, he explained that it would be "hypocritical" to continue working while neglecting his own mental health.
In a statement released in September 2022, he said: "It seems completely hypocritical of me to advocate discussion on mental health and write songs about it if I don't take time to look after my own mental health. I've neglected myself for over a year now and haven't dealt with things that have deeply affected me.
"It's impossible to do this work on myself while on the road, and it's exhausting feigning happiness and wellness for the sake of business. My friends and colleagues have been worried about me for a while and it's not going to get better unless I take the time to do so." He later explained he was beyond grateful to his fans for understanding before adding: "Me and the boys are burnt out and we need this time."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
10 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Don't judge him' – Darts star reveals Michael van Gerwen's words to him straight after shocking ‘pub player' slur
He also explained what he feels triggered the outburst Full one-eighty 'Don't judge him' – Darts star reveals Michael van Gerwen's words to him straight after shocking 'pub player' slur DARTS STAR Pero Ljubic has defended rival Michael van Gerwen after the ex-world champ labelled him a "pub player". The outburst caused outrage in the media - but Ljubic has now come to the aid of his Dutch opponent. 4 Van Gerwen appeared to slam his opponent following a nervy victory last week in Poland Credit: Getty 4 Croatian thrower Pero Ljubic does not hold a grudge against the Dutchman Credit: Instagram / @peroljubic78 Van Gerwen's insults included calling his opponent a "pub player" as well as saying "[Ljubic] won a few legs and it feels like his birthday". However - speaking to Polish darts outlet Okiem Darta - Ljubic downplayed the severity of Van Gerwen's jibes. The Croatian revealed that Van Gerwen apologised for his comments immediately - and asked people not to leap to conclusions. He said: "Michael apologised to me straight away. We know each other well, and I know he meant no harm. READ MORE ON DARTS FLIGHT TROUBLE Darts duo suffer nightmare start to Baltic Sea Darts Open amid BA blunder "Don't be too quick to judge – emotions can take over in moments like that.' Van Gerwen and Ljubic were drawn against each other in the Poland Darts Masters last week. Van Gerwen - ranked third on the PDC Order of Merit - was expected to demolish his opponent, who sat 140 places below him in the rankings. Instead, the three-time World Championship winner stumbled to just a shaky 6-4 victory, prompting his shocking post-match comments. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Ljubic said: "He was just frustrated with his own performance. 'For me, what matters most is someone's honesty – not what the internet says." Darts star Michael van Gerwen rips into 'pub player' rival Pero Ljubic Ljubic's classy reaction even extended to paying his legendary opponent compliments. He added: "During a later chat, he even gave me some motivation. He's a genuinely decent guy and a top-class player." 4 Ljubic holds a PDC Order of Merit ranking of 143, a full 140 spots behind Van Gerwen's top three ranking Credit: Instagram / @peroljubic78 4 Van Gerwen is considered amongst the best to ever step up to the oche, and is the second most successful PDC darts player ever behind Phil Taylor. Credit: Getty Van Gerwen was eventually knocked out of the tournament in the quarter-finals by Englishman Rob Cross. Welsh star Gerwyn Price would take the silverware in the end however, narrowly beating Stephen Bunting 8-7 in a tense final.
Scottish Sun
25 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
I've had more people call me ‘gay' than ever before but JoJo romance is REAL, says Chris Hughes in ONLY interview
Speaking for the first time about their relationship, the TV fave reveals all about their first kiss, meeting JoJo's famous family and his commitment issues CHRIS & TELL I've had more people call me 'gay' than ever before but JoJo romance is REAL, says Chris Hughes in ONLY interview Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHRIS Hughes has finally broken his silence and revealed the TRUTH about his unexpected romance with his Celebrity Big Brother housemate, JoJo Siwa. From 'showmance' rumours to shock 'gay' rumours, this is the TV favourite's most honest chat to date - buckle up. 6 Love Island's Chris Hughes opens up about falling for JoJo Siwa on CBB and why he is already dreaming about their wedding day Credit: Mark Hayman 6 Even the bookies wouldn't have backed Love Island's Chris and Dance Moms star JoJo becoming a couple Credit: Instagram/Chris Hughes Here, Chris sits down with Fabulous' Kelly Allen to set to record straight... If someone had said 12 months ago that Chris Hughes would be dating social-media star JoJo Siwa, you'd think they were deluded. But after meeting for the first time on Celebrity Big Brother in April, the pair have fallen madly in love. Even Chris is surprised by how events have panned out. SHOCK ROMANCE 'Everything that happened on CBB, and everything that has happened since. . . I know it's such a clichéd thing to say, but I would never have believed it in a million years.' He's not the only one. Not even a betting man would have predicted that the 32-year-old Love Island star turned racing commentator would get together with Nebraska-born JoJo, who rose to fame as an 11-year-old on Dance Moms and is worth £15million. Particularly as, when she entered the house, JoJo, 22, was in a relationship with 27-year-old Australian actor Kath Ebbs, who identifies as non-binary. But love moves in mysterious ways, and as speculation about Chris and JoJo's relationship in the house reached fever pitch, it emerged that she had dumped Kath at the CBB finale party. Chris and JoJo initially remained coy about what was going on, but after transatlantic trips to see each other, the pair have taken it up a level. Today, Chris is speaking for the first time about their relationship and wants to set the story straight. JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes drive fans wild with intimate backstage video 'Meeting her gave me this magical feeling. She is the most precious person' JoJo, or Joelle as he likes to call her (she refers to him as 'my sweet Christopher'), is unexpectedly also on the Fabulous shoot. She jetted into London a day early to surprise him and has joined us on set. And the pair can't keep their hands off each other! They canoodle between takes, and JoJo takes snaps on her phone, commenting on her 'hot' boyfriend. JoJo, who is based in California, is not, on the surface, Chris' usual type. He dated Olivia Attwood after meeting her on Love Island in 2017, as well as having relationships with Jesy Nelson and then professional golfer Annabel Dimmock, who he split from in 2022. We just wanted to be there for each other in the house. I adored the ground she walked on and the way she handled herself He had been single since. 'I started to think there was no one out there for me,' he admits. 'I've been on dates, but there was nothing that properly ignited me. I kept questioning if it was me, or if I had commitment issues, because so many of these people were amazing, but there was something missing. 6 Chris on Love Island in 2017 with Kemi Cetinay Credit: ITV/Shutterstock "Then meeting Joelle gave me this magical feeling. She is the most precious person. 'Life has an unexpected way of bringing two people together, and this feels like that. We were meant to cross paths. "We keep saying to each other it was serendipity. Life handed me a blessing in my lap.' Fans were gripped by the pair's relationship on Celebrity Big Brother, where Chris finished sixth and JoJo placed third. I adored the ground she walked on and the way she handled herself 'Some of the best relationships start as friendships,' explains Chris. 'I look back at the CBB clips and could see how we gravitated towards each other. "We just wanted to be there for each other in the house. I adored the ground she walked on and the way she handled herself. "How can you not love her? But it was as a friend. 'Then towards the end of the show, I was confused about my feelings for her. And you don't know what it's going to be like on the outside. I was saying to myself: 'Come on, Chris, pull yourself together.' 'She flew home and she was so upset leaving and I was so sad to see her go. "We were just friends at that stage, but we were talking all the time. I was missing her and I felt like I needed to see her, so I flew to Mexico City to surprise her. "I was so nervous, even though I'd lived with her for three weeks. Then we ended up going to Orlando and I met her family – it was the best three days of my life. Our first kiss was genuinely special – it felt like I was in a movie. I can't keep my hands off her now! "From the minute I woke up until I went to bed, I was just so happy. It was at that moment something fully ignited inside me. "I went: 'God, I really like this person', and I knew she reciprocated it.' 6 Chris and JoJo getting to know each other in the Celebrity Big Brother house Credit: While on the holiday, they opened up about their feelings. 'It was really special and just happened without any effort or planning. "Our first kiss was genuinely special – it felt like I was in a movie. I can't keep my hands off her now! "I love her skin, her eyes and her smile. 'I never really used to look forward to going to bed, as it's when your mind wonders about things, and I struggled previously with anxiety, but now I look forward to it. "When she's tucked into me, it feels like the best thing. Now she doesn't have hair extensions she can get really close, because before they would tickle my face or I'd be choking on them. "There was a lot of hair,' he laughs. And have they said: 'I love you' yet? 'Yeah, every day I tell her,' he smiles. 'She's the last person I speak to at night and the first I speak to when I wake up. "I can't explain it, but it's a safe love. It's like a natural high.' And JoJo's momager Jessalynn and dad Tom have given their seal of approval – even inviting Chris to the family group chat. There isn't an ounce of toxic masculinity in my body 'Honestly, I've never felt more comfortable with people,' he says. 'We were like one big happy family in Florida. "Her brother Jayden and Abby, Jayden's wife to be, were there. They've invited us to their wedding next year. 'Last time they were in London, I messaged the family group chat, saying: 'Tom, do you want to go to the spa with me?' "So we did that, then we had a few beers and played Nintendo together. Yeah, he definitely approves. "He plays golf and he's been practising so we can play when I go to the West Coast in a couple of weeks. "He thinks he will beat me, but genuinely he won't,' he laughs. Her parents' approval aside, it hasn't all been plain sailing for the couple. There has been criticism over their 10-year age gap and there were rumours of Chris using JoJo to boost his profile in the States. What does he think of the accusations that their relationship is fake? 'I don't care,' he says. 'I wouldn't go to the effort of loving someone for any other reason than it being real. "Having been in this industry for eight years, I needed to adapt to having criticism from different angles. "The past few months have actually made me a little stronger mentally. 'People are entitled to have opinions. It would be boring if we all thought the same thing. "I've had more people call me 'gay' in the last two months of my life than ever before. But it doesn't bother me – as long as people aren't nasty, opinions are fine. "I may be feminine in the way I do things, but I wouldn't change the way I am for anything. "I cry a lot, but we live in a world where toxic masculinity exists, and there isn't an ounce of that in my body. "Crying is my release, and I won't let anyone tell me that makes me less of a man.' I've had more people call me 'gay' in the last two months of my life than ever before. But it doesn't bother me – as long as people aren't nasty, opinions are fine. Chris insists the age gap never crossed his mind until people commented on it. 'She's one of the most mature people I've ever met, and I'm very immature! But it just works. "My mates always say: 'Love is love', and that's what this is. You can't pick and choose how or when it happens.' Chris is JoJo's first boyfriend, leading to backlash from the LGBTQ+ community. 6 Nebraska-born JoJo, with mum Jessalynn, rose to fame as an 11 year old on Dance Moms and is worth £15million Credit: Paul Redmond/WireImage 'I'm very respectful of everything she's been through,' he says. 'That's her own personal journey. "But it upsets me that she is being thrown hate online. I do feel a sense of responsibility that being with me has led to her getting hate. "I don't understand how anyone could be mean to someone as caring as her. 'Joelle has been with girls all her life. She is bisexual. She's not now straight just because she's with me. "Sexuality can be fluid, and you should be able to love who you want without judgement.' He adds: 'She is still part of the LGBTQ+ community, she always will be. And while there's been negativity, there has been so much love.' Chris has even garnered praise from ex Jesy Nelson's mum. 'Janice reached out to my mum and said: 'It's nice to see Chris and JoJo together. It's nice to see him happy.'' Chris, who was with Little Mix's Jesy for 16 months until they split in April 2020, posted on her social media congratulating her on the birth of her twin daughters. I'd be lying if I said I didn't run through scenarios of our wedding 'If you can't be happy for people who have been in your life previously, then you won't be happy for anyone,' he says. 'We split up years ago, but she's such a nice girl. When I was with her, she used to get so much hate and I'd think: 'God, if you knew what she was like. . .' "So I am chuffed to see her happy. She deserves it.' JoJo dresses quite androgynously, often wears Pride colours and is a big fan of diamantés and rhinestones. Would Chris like it if she was more. . . girlie? 'No!' he exclaims. 'The person I grew to love was the person she is now. I would never want to change her. "If she wants to change her style, that's on her. People say: 'You need to grow out of the glitter and rhinestones.' "But I love the rhinestones. I find them everywhere. I found a red one in the shower the other day and I've stuck it on the wall so every time I see it, I'm like: 'That's her. That's the person I love.'' With Chris living in Windsor, have they discussed moving closer to each other? 'No, we haven't spoken about living with each other in the future. We live in the moment. I'd love to marry her. I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I run through scenarios of our wedding day "There's no pressure on anything. I'm happy to jump on planes. We have a transatlantic relationship – she could live in New Zealand and we'd still make the same effort. "I say it's effort, but it's effortless. Nothing is too much trouble to make her happy. I write love letters. "I'm obsessed with her. I'd do anything for her.' What does the future look like? 'I do see a forever here,' he grins. 'If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but I genuinely see a forever. In relationships, you can have moments where you think: 'Is this going to work? Is this going to last?' "I don't have that with her. I almost want to fast-forward to see what it's like, but I don't want to miss this. 'I'd love to marry her. I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I run through scenarios of our wedding day. "We'd have a proper English wedding and I can imagine her in a full wedding dress. "We both want kids. We come from loving families. My mum loves her. She's my best friend. "I love that she's the person I have to do nothing with and still have the best time. That's everything to me.' 6 Chris admits he has already been running through scenarios for his wedding day Credit: Mark Hayman
Metro
31 minutes ago
- Metro
I got a massive tattoo of this UK city to prove my love
Every morning when I look in the mirror, I see my full tattoo sleeve. It runs from knee to ankle on my right leg, filled with parts of my favourite city in the UK that mean a lot to me. I can spot Castlefield's bridges, the Beetham Tower, red brick buildings, even the doorway to Mulligans, my favourite pub. There's a bus number, some Oasis sheet music, and a bee. Each part reminds me of moments I've spent in a place that feels like a second home – Manchester. It all started back in 1994, when my interest in English football began. Living in Switzerland, the only match broadcast on TV every year was the FA Cup final. Between 1994 and 1999, Manchester United won the Cup three of the four times they played it. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. I loved watching that team play. It didn't look like the football I knew in Switzerland. Then came that amazing period with the 1999 treble – first Man United won the Premier League, then the FA Cup, followed by the Champions League mere days later. My first visit to the city in 2010 was all about Old Trafford. Aged 35, I came from Lausanne in Switzerland – where I was born and still live – to see a match. I barely knew the city beyond the stadium and centre, but something about the atmosphere stayed with me. I liked the people, the energy. I knew I'd come back. And I did, later in 2010 and again in 2012. Always for football, but each time I explored more. I found places that felt more local. Mulligans was one of the first – an Irish pub just off Deansgate. I still remember walking in and loving it instantly. The music, the Guinness, the atmosphere. It felt like a place where real Mancunians go, not just tourists. Since then, I've been to Manchester over 50 times. Sometimes just for a night out, other times for weekends. I even lived there for three months in 2022 when my wife and I separated. I wasn't doing very well and needed to take a break, step back and have some time for myself. I had already often come to Manchester for weekends and I wanted to take this opportunity to explore the city in more detail and take some English lessons. I loved spending those three months in Manchester and was able to discover a large part of the city and its history. During this stay, I also met some extraordinary people at bars and pubs whom I continue to see as often as possible. This changed everything. I wasn't just visiting — I was properly living in the city day to day. I took the number 43 bus often, went to museums like the People's History Museum and IWM North, wandered through Castlefield and the Northern Quarter, and watched the city evolve. One thing that stood out was how creative the city is – especially the music. You hear it everywhere, in pubs, shops, even on the street. Oasis obviously means a lot to me – I grew up with this band until their split in 2004 and have never stopped listening to their music. I have seen the brothers perform separately – Liam Gallagher in 2024 and Noel Gallagher in 2023. But I've also seen other brilliant musicians in Manchester like Primal Scream (2023) and New Order (2024). It's part of why I love Manchester, it feels like it's always expressing something. The people have always been a big part of my love for the city. Over time, I've made real friends there. I've had great conversations in bars and been welcomed like a regular in places I'd only visited a few times. The Generation Gallery on New York Street is one example – I stopped in one day and ended up chatting with the team for ages. Now I always go back and have bought several pieces. There have been emotional moments too. I watched the One Love Manchester concert in a bar after the Manchester Arena bombing. I watched the Queen's funeral on the big screen in Exchange Square. I've stood in silence on Remembrance Day with strangers. Those moments stay with you. So when I turned 50 this year, I wanted to do something personal to mark it. A tattoo felt right. You can find Stéphane Chevalier on Instagram here Manchester was the obvious theme. But I didn't want something generic – not just the stadium or the skyline. I wanted something that reflected the little details that made the city matter to me. I found my tattoo artist, Bex Mavo on Instagram. She's brilliant. She immediately understood the idea and brought her own creativity. We worked together on a design that blended landmarks with personal memories – Castlefield, Beetham Tower, the bricks, Mulligans, Oasis lyrics, the number 43 bus, even some Lowry-style matchstick men. All connected in one flowing piece. It took four sessions between December last year and May, which was about 18 hours in total. Some parts were painful, especially over bone, but Bex was great. She'd give me a heads-up when it was going to sting. 'Sorry love,' she'd say – always calm, always professional. The healing went well. I moisturised, followed the care instructions, and now it feels like it's always been there. My friends and family in Switzerland loved it. They know how much Manchester means to me, so they understood. My friends in Manchester were touched, too. Some were surprised by how much was included, but they appreciated the detail. It's sparked lots of conversations. People recognise things, point them out, and we swap stories. Some, not knowing Manchester, try to understand the meaning of the different parts. The whole experience reminded me how deep my connection to the city runs. Manchester made me more open-minded, more curious. It gave me new perspectives and made me feel at home in a place that isn't mine by birth, but feels like mine in every other way. I know I'll keep coming back and have dreams tied to the city. I'd love to see United lift the Premier League trophy again. More Trending Maybe one day I'll buy a small flat to make visits easier. And I've even thought about writing a French travel guide to Manchester or running French-language tours. For now, I share what I love through my Instagram. I post in French, mostly about culture, music, and the city's atmosphere. Later this year, I'm finally going to see Oasis live again – at Heaton Park, of course. Whatever happens, the city's part of me now. And I don't just carry the memories, I wear them on my skin. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: My parents can't afford to have the funerals I want for them MORE: I thought my date was too young but I was the immature one MORE: Viktor Gyokeres speaks out after Arsenal offer and reveals 'important' transfer wish
