The Chronicle

Musician collects his award in Sam style

SUCCESS FOR NORTH EAST ARTISTS AT THE BRITS

- By SIMON DUKE Reporter simon.duke@reachplc.com @simon_dukey

HE promised us he’d be making quite a night of it and North Shields singer Sam Fender definitely looked the part as he arrived at the Brit Awards last night.

The 24-year-old North Shields musician was one of the first stars to hit the red carpet at London’s O2 Arena and looked very dapper in a black suit with short trousers and a crisp white shirt.

Sam saw off competitio­n from Lewis Capaldi and Mahalia to win the Brits Critics’ Choice trophy for this year, following in the footsteps of massive acts like Adele, Jessie J, Florence & the Machine, Ellie Goulding and Sam Smith.

Talking to The Chronicle last week, Sam said: “It’s still massively, massively surreal.

“The past few months have just been insane. It will look like an overnight success story to the rest of the world but we’ve done so much to get to this point.

“I’d say I was definitely the underdog for Critics’ Choice, so to win it was incredible. I’d only had a record deal for a few months before it was announced; I was totally overcome.”

There was more North East success at the Brits 2019 as Little Mix, whose line-up includes South Shields pair Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards, claimed the British artist video of the year gong for Woman Like Me, featuring Nicki Minaj.

The award was presented by 1980s popsters Bros.

The British group award went to Manchester pop rock four-piece The 1975, who reached number one with their album A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationsh­ips.

Lead singer Matty Healy is the son of Auf Wiedersehe­n Pet star Tim and Coronation Street actress Denise Welch.

 ??  ?? North Shields singer-songwriter Sam Fender with the Brits Critics’ Choice Award he picked up at the O2 Arena in London last night
North Shields singer-songwriter Sam Fender with the Brits Critics’ Choice Award he picked up at the O2 Arena in London last night

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