By Mark Tavender | Photography by Megan Ramsey Photography
This year marks the 800th anniversary of North Shields, and the town is pulling out all the stops to celebrate this milestone. Throughout the year, a vibrant calendar of events will showcase the town’s rich history, culture, and community spirit. From spectacular parades and exhibitions to live music and heritage projects, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
This anniversary is a significant moment for the people of North Shields, providing an opportunity to reflect on their town’s past, celebrate its present, and look forward to its future. It’s a chance for the community to come together, strengthen bonds, and create lasting memories. The celebrations will not only highlight North Shields’ unique identity but also boost local pride and attract visitors, contributing to the town’s economy and vibrancy.
The year long celebrations kicked off in fine style at The Exchange on 31 January 2025 and one artist who epitomises the creative talent that exists in the town treated us to two of his songs – Man Down and Love Will Conquer.
Liam Fender is one of North Shields’ finest – a talented musician and multi -instrumentalist – and I sat down with him a week later to discuss his music and what North Shields 800 means to him.
We started by talking about how he first got into music and what North Shields was like when he was growing up.
‘My Dad worked in a recording studio and he’d drag me along. I used to love just hitting the drums. He was in a band and I used to go along and watch him,’ recalls Liam.
Music was so much part of his life from a young age that he finds it hard to remember the first gig he went to.
‘But I do remember the Fish Quay Festival. It was quite exciting as a kid, and pretty unimaginable now. I think it was one of the biggest free festivals in Europe at the time,’ says Liam.
I point out that the town sounded very vibrant back then and ask him if things have changed since.
‘Yes and no’, he says. ‘It’s always had a rough and ready edge.’
Like all good things, the Fish Quay Festival came to an end and the last one took place in 2005 – it had to be suspended because of safety concerns, a victim of its own success.
‘But it had also become more corporate and a little bit contrived and less about the town,’ says Liam.
By now Liam was a consummate songwriter and musician but there were few opportunities for emerging artists in the town to gain exposure and recognition. The music scene had become a little one-dimensional with bands playing mainly cover versions in the pubs and clubs.
‘Sometimes you could sneak one of your own songs in,’ recalls Liam.
Slightly disillusioned, Liam took a step back from the music scene and took up a regular 9 to 5 job, which he enjoyed. It provided a consistent routine and certainty which the music scene could not.
By 2020, his appetite for music and songwriting had returned and he had been offered a deal by a small independent record label. But 2020 had other things in mind and in March of that year, we were all in lockdown. Liam freely admits he didn’t cope well with the regime but says the experience made him change his perspective about the world.
‘I was quite politically active but now I’m very much focussed on what I can do locally and immediately around me. When you see these little community things happening, that’s what gives you hope,’ Liam says.
Liam has a very keen sense of community and I point out that this comes across in his music video for his song ‘Times Comes Around.’ Shot in the heart of North Shields involving local people it could be viewed as a show reel for the town and what it is like to live here, warts and all.
‘It almost came across as a pre-promotion video for the North Shields’ Cultural Quarter but I had no idea that any of this was happening at the time we shot it!’ Liam points out.
Liam hopes that the North Shields 800 celebrations will bring a renewed sense of pride and cultural identity to the town. He believes that the increased attention and investment in the area will provide opportunities for local artists, including himself, to reach a wider audience.
While acknowledging the obvious potential benefits of the cultural quarter development and the North Shields 800 celebrations, Liam also expresses some concern about gentrification and the need to ensure that the local community remains involved and benefits from these changes. He emphasises the importance of supporting grassroots music venues and fostering a sustainable music scene in the area that is accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic background.
Despite his growing success and undeniable talent, Liam remains remarkably modest and self-effacing. He attributes his achievements to simply ‘sticking at it long enough’ but is also quick to acknowledge that his band members are a big part of it. He knows that he can rely on them to be there for him, both on and off stage. He points out that not only are they his bandmates, they are his good friends. This makes for a very creative and collaborative environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing their ideas.
He expresses genuine surprise at being considered a leading representative of North Shields’ burgeoning music and creative scene. His humility is evident in his reluctance to ‘blow his own trumpet’ or self-promote, a trait that he acknowledges can be a challenge in the music industry. His down-to-earth nature and focus on community and connection, rather than personal accolades, further underscore his genuine and unassuming character.
As he points out, ‘I’m just Liam from Shields.’ but North Shields is very lucky to have him.
Instagram: Liam Fender
