It is fair to say that since we first crossed paths about a mile from this very venue in a room that barely held a hundred or so people, the career of Geordie boy Sam Fender has only gone one way. Admittedly, that gig in The Church was packed to the rafters and, while it may not have been his finest hour due to various technical difficulties, the chances of seeing the songwriter playing a venue that size again in the future will be few and far between. Winding the clock forward to this cold November evening and the queue round the twelve thousand seat First Direct Arena is absolutely ridiculous as fans make their way into the latest date on his UK arena tour. “Shows like this are what dreams are made of,” admits the singer as he looks out over a completely sold-out Arena, and with plenty o...