British rock sensation Sam Fender transformed Perth's Kings Park into a Geordie heartland on Friday night, delivering what he declared might be the best crowd of his entire Australian tour.
Expat Invasion at Kings Park
The iconic Perth venue was awash with British accents and northern English pride as what felt like the city's entire expat population turned out to witness Fender's powerful performance. Geordies, Brits and homesick northerners created an electric atmosphere, belting every word back at the musician with football-stand intensity.
The 31-year-old acknowledged the incredible reception, asking the crowd if there were "any Aussies in the crowd" before praising the Perth audience. The night carried extra emotional significance as Fender revealed this marked not only the final show of his People Watching tour, which began in December 2024, but his last concert for the foreseeable future.
"It didn't dawn on us until about five minutes before we came out... we thought this could be a year until we are doing concerts again," the emotional singer told the crowd.
High-Energy Performance With Special Moments
Despite the emotional weight, Fender delivered a high-energy set with sharp vocals and a tight band that kept the energy levels soaring throughout the evening. The performance featured a memorable mid-show surprise when Fender brought a fan named Will, whom he'd met outside his hotel earlier, on stage to play guitar during "Borders."
The venue, split between seated areas and mosh pits, maintained order until Fender's breakthrough hit "Seventeen Going Under" forced everyone to their feet. The track, which boasts more than 316 million Spotify streams, prompted the night's biggest reaction with the entire crowd dancing and singing along to every word.
Fender's voice remained strong throughout the performance, though there were moments when his backing vocalist slightly overpowered the mix. Support acts Esha Tewari and Holly Humberstone warmed up the crowd effectively, with Humberstone later joining Fender on stage for one of his final songs.
The One Notable Omission
While the concert delivered on most fronts, fans were left with one burning question as they exited the venue: why was "Rein Me In" missing from the setlist?
The noticeable absence of Fender's recent collaboration with well-known artist Olivia Dean didn't derail the otherwise impressive performance, but it left diehard fans speculating about the reason for its omission.
The concert concluded with a three-song encore featuring "The Dying Light," "Something Light," and "Hypersonic Missiles," sending the packed Kings Park crowd home satisfied despite the one missing track from Fender's repertoire.
The verdict: A solid 4 out of 5 stars - losing one point for the absent live version of "Rein Me In" that left fans wanting more from an otherwise exceptional farewell performance.
