800 Years – Here We Are: a free documentary premiere, live concert and brand-new single launch
Liam Fender performing on North Shields Fish Quay
Soon to be announced very special guests to feature in the film and its premiere
Thursday 23 October 2025 – 7.30pm
The Exchange 1856, North Shields, NE30 1SE
Over 15s only (children aged 15–17 must be accompanied by an adult)
FREE TICKETS HERE - BE QUICK!
North Shields’ 800th anniversary celebrations will reach a dramatic crescendo this October with an extraordinary evening featuring one of the town’s most compelling voices: Liam Fender.
On Thursday 23 October 2025, The Exchange 1856 will host the world premiere of 800 Years – Here We Are, a music documentary that explores the town’s cultural and musical heartbeat – fronted, narrated and hosted by Liam himself. The film, produced and directed by Northeast Fuse and XL Creative Media, and supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the North East Combined Authority, is set to be a centrepiece of the North Shields 800 programme.
But the story doesn’t end with the screen. Immediately following the premiere, Liam Fender and his full band will take to the stage for a live performance.
The event also marks the release of Liam’s brand-new single, “Here We Are”, unveiled for the first time within the documentary and performed live on stage the very same evening.
A single for the people
“Here We Are” is no ordinary release. With its huge riffs and an anthemic chorus, the track represents a bold new chapter for Liam – one of the North East’s most distinctive songwriters. The single is both a personal statement and a rallying cry, echoing the resilience, unity and joy at the heart of North Shields’ anniversary year.
Speaking about the track, Liam said: “The title of it works very well. It’s a real celebration of people coming together through adversity and I’m very proud of it. It’s about having a great time but finding a way to celebrate life and moving forward. More than anything, it’s a song for my hometown. North Shields is in my blood – it’s where I was born, where I grew up, and where the people and the places have shaped me as an artist and as a person.
“To be able to release this track on the very same day as the documentary premiere, in front of a home crowd, feels incredibly special. This town has given me so much, and this is my way of giving something back.”
By releasing “Here We Are” in tandem with the documentary and concert, Liam ensures that the song is not just heard but experienced – on film, on stage and in the hearts of everyone in attendance.
Capturing the spirit of North Shields
Filmed across landmark sites, venues and sweeping coastal panoramas, 800 Years – Here We Are showcases Liam as both guide and storyteller. Audiences will see him explore the town’s cultural DNA, speak with its people, and draw out the stories of how music has shaped lives across the generations.
Contributors include celebrated voices such as Ray Laidlaw of Lindisfarne, promoter Anthony Thomson, music artist and DJ Schak, singer songwriter Hels Pattison, alongside a chorus of local residents, emerging talents and soon to be announced very special guests, whose memories and perspectives bring the story vividly to life. Together, their insights frame a portrait of North Shields as a town defined not just by its maritime and industrial heritage, but by its music, creativity and spirit of resilience.
As host and performer, Liam embodies that spirit – a bridge between the past and the present, and a voice leading the town confidently into its future.
A highlight of North Shields 800
This one-night-only film premiere and concert is firmly positioned as a headline highlight of North Shields 800. The anniversary year has already featured a spectacular parade of boats, blessings of the fishing fleet, heritage exhibitions, street art murals and more. Yet 800 Years – Here We Are promises something singular: a chance to experience the story of a community told through the voice and music of one of its own.
About Liam Fender
Newcastle-based singer-songwriter Liam Fender has built his reputation on honesty, depth and emotional intensity. His self-described style of “post-industrial romance” has drawn comparisons to Richard Hawley, but Liam’s songs are unmistakably his own – earthy, intuitive and deeply human.
Having grown up surrounded by the voices and stories of North East musicians and creatives, Liam channels that influence into songs that resonate with authenticity. Earlier releases such as Love Will Conquer and Time Comes Around offered glimpses of his talent. With “Here We Are”, however, Liam delivers his boldest artistic statement yet – a true anthem for his community and beyond.
“For me, to make a life through making music is the ultimate goal,” Liam explains. “I haven’t chosen to do this – it’s chosen me. It’s in my DNA.”
That conviction runs through every note of “Here We Are” and every frame of the new documentary.