We spoke to James Arthur following the exciting announcement of his huge homecoming show at the Riverside next year.
The boyhood Boro fan, now a Brit Billion-certified artist, comes back to his Teesside roots for what will be his biggest headline show to date on Saturday 8 June 2024, joined by special guests McFly and Lauran Hibberd.
The news follows the announcement of James' fifth, brand new studio album Bitter Sweet Love - out January 26 2024 - and a major world tour, in which multiple dates including UK arenas sold out instantly.
James says performing at the home of the Boro will be a pinch-yourself moment.
"It's truly unbelievable," he told us.
"I don't think you can put it into words. I haven't quite processed it yet to be honest.
"As someone who came to the Riverside as a young lad, had a season ticket, came through the turnstiles and felt like a small cog in a big wheel, it's crazy to think that people will be doing the same thing but to see a James Arthur concert.
"A huge homecoming gig at my football club's stadium, that's the ultimate fantasy isn't it?
"It's like the end of the movie, the full circle moment."
It's a fitting moment too, for James, who says Teesside flows through all of his music.
"A lot of who I am as an artist; the character, emotion and pain that I put into my music, I attribute that to my upbringing and the culture of this area," he said.
"We all know as Teessiders and people of this part of the world, that there's a spirit within us, a hard work ethic, and it's in the fibres of everything I do."
James will join the likes of the Killers, Arctic Monkeys and Take That, who also return to Teesside next summer, to have played the Riverside, the stadium continuing its emergence as an exciting music venue.
Tickets for James' show go on sale from 9am on Friday 10 November, and James hopes it'll be another night to remember.
"To put my name alongside huge global acts like Take That, the Killers and Arctic Monkeys, I take it as a huge compliment," he said.
"I'm honoured, I really am.
"Hopefully everyone on Teesside and the surrounding areas will come out to watch the concert."