Sam Fender praises home region after Mercury winpublished at 10:45 BST 17 October
Fender says his Mercury Prize winning album is a collection of stories about life in North Shields.
Read MoreSam Fender praises home region after Mercury winpublished at 10:45 BST 17 October
UK's music industry is finally taking the North East seriouslypublished at 09:24 BST 17 October
Sharuna Sagar
BBC Look North
Image source, Sam Fender/PAImage caption, Sam Fender played three sold-out homecoming gigs at the home of Newcastle United in June
History is being made as the Mercury Prize uproots itself from London for the first time in its 33-year history and lands in Newcastle.
The decision by the British Phonographic Industry to move one of the UK’s most prestigious music awards 300 miles north sends a clear signal: the industry is finally taking the North East seriously.
Running alongside the main event is the inaugural Mercury Fringe Festival - a celebratory week of artist showcases, masterclasses and workshops shining a spotlight on the region’s rich seam of talent across every genre.
Sam Fender’s meteoric rise - and second appearance on the coveted Album of the Year shortlist - has already helped turn the spotlight on this long-overlooked corner of the country.
With local alumni including Maxïmo Park, Field Music, The Unthanks and Nadine Shah, the hope is that the Mercurys’ northern debut will kick open the door for more homegrown artists to thrive.
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