Leaving the UK: Sam Fender’s Journey Through the Drug War

Update on Sam Fender’s Tour

The drug war has announced that it will no longer be collaborating with Sam Fender at the end of this year due to “personal planning issues.”

Change in Tour Plans

This summer, the group was expected to join Fender on his tour at the stadium, with the London show scheduled for June 6, alongside two performances at Newcastle’s St. James’ Park on June 14 and June 15.

However, they shared the news today (April 23) on Facebook: “With great disappointment, due to personal planning issues, the War on Drugs, unfortunately, cannot perform with Sam Fender in London and Newcastle this June.”

At this time, no further details have been provided, but CMAT will still support all the scheduled dates. You can find the remaining tickets for the show here and view the complete list of dates below.

Sam Fender’s UK and Ireland Tour Dates for 2025:

MAYBE
24 – Big Weekend Radio 1 2025, Sefton Park, Liverpool

JUNE
6 – London Stadium
12 – St. James’ Park, Newcastle
14 – St. James’ Park, Newcastle
15 – St. James’ Park, Newcastle

AUGUST
16 – Vitenshou Park, Manchester
22 – Edinburgh Summer Sessions @ Royal Highland Showgrounds
28 – Vital @ Boucher Road Playing Fields, Belfast

“Adam Granduciel” from the War on Drugs had notably collaborated on the latest Fender album “People Watch,” and the two recently reunited for a chat at Coachella.

Reflecting on the experience of recording with Fender, Granduciel said: “I fell in love with it. He is a savant.”

“Sam and the band left in March for about five weeks,” he added. “We built on things that they had already started, and then we also began some new projects from scratch. It was incredible. I had never met Sam before, but we had spoken once or twice.”

“People Watching” received a glowing four-star review from NME, which described it as “reflective and insightful indie sounds from the shining star of North Shields.” The review noted how the British guitar hero manages to convey the struggle of feeling existentially torn and disconnected from his working-class roots amidst his rapid rise to fame in his stunning third album.

In another four-star review of Fender’s concert in Leeds on December 4, NME remarked: “There is no significant shaking of the setlist, but rather a sense of self-assurance in going along with the reliable approach that has served him well.”

“While tonight’s performance confirms that ‘People Watching’ will have to fight for its place, the successful balance of the old and new could elevate Sam Fender’s career to unprecedented heights. Glastonbury, is anyone?”