SILVERSTONE GRAND PRIX 2025: SAM FENDER & BLOSSOMS
Credit: Ben Gregory-Ring
Music lovers who know nothing about sport, there’s a place for you. And if you want to learn about it, even better.
Silverstone Grand Prix Weekend has shaped up over the last few years to compete with other weekend festivals. Upping the ante this year to celebrate 75 years of Formula 1, all four days hosted an all-star line-up of British talent.
Square One went down for the opening day on Thursday, which hosted some incredible talks from drivers, electric DJ sets, and mesmerising performances from Blossoms and Sam Fender. Since the doors open early in the morning, Silverstone ensured anyone queuing for the barrier at the eBay stage would be entertained until the last firework exploded at the end of the night.
F1 drivers came out to do interviews and talk with the crowd; there were panel discussions, and food vendors weren’t too far from the stage. It’s the definition of understanding the fan experience, even if you weren’t in the VIP areas or getting tours of the paddocks. But as the heat-wave sun thankfully began to set, and as hundreds of thousands of fans descended to get their glimpse of the main stage, the show began.
Indie quintet Blossoms shifted the evening into high gear, showcasing their best guitar-driven hits. Upbeat, groovy, and mesmerising, the golden hour rays perfectly matched the vibe of songs like ‘Your Girlfriend’, ‘Charlemagne’, and ‘Gary’.
Credit: Ben Gregory-Ring
Support acts don’t always have surprise guests, but Blossoms wheeled out an eight-foot, fibreglass one. Gary, the inspiration behind the title track of their fifth album and chart-favourite hit, was crafted after frontman Tom Ogden heard about a theft involving a very similar gorilla from a Scottish garden centre.
Jokes, racing, and good music? Silverstone has it all.
And with just enough time to build suspense, Sam Fender took the stage. Newcastle flags immediately rose across the crowd, all in support of their hometown’s star. Getting started with ‘Getting Started’, Sam sprinkled in crowd favourites like ‘People Watching’, ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ and ‘Seventeen Going Under’, accompanied by gorgeous graphics and a stellar support band. Jaws were dropped the whole time, Newcastle chants were heard in between songs, and some tears were shed. All the usual for a Sam Fender show.
Credit: Ben Gregory-Ring
It was a universal night.
No matter what the ticket was bought for, Sam’s music had something for everyone. Those who love folk music, those who love rock, those who need a really good scream about the state of the world -- it’s all there with a Geordie accent and a simple white t-shirt.
Whether you cheer when Lewis Hamilton walks past or when Sam Fender comes on stage, the Silverstone Grand Prix is well worth the journey. No news if Gary the Gorilla will make an appearance next year, but Lando sure will.