All Photos by Martyn Roper
Sam was born in Barnsley in 1980 and lived in the small village of Denby Dale for only six months before the family moved to Addingham, which he still considers his true home. The family moved to Ilkley in 1993 when Sam was 13. Sam was brought up in a household where music was very important. His father and Unlcle, Ian and John Barrett were both impressive folk musicians, mainly playing English songs on guitar. Sam was lucky enough to be taken by his family to countless folk festivals, concerts and clubs throughout his childhood, giving him a vital insight into traditional music of various forms and from all over the world. Sam embarked on his solo music career in 2005 and since has played all over the UK including Northern Ireland but mainly in West Yorkshire.
Over the past three years Sam’s repertoire has constantly evolved. He began his solo career by mainly playing delta blues but his repertoire developed to include elements of old time and country as well as traditional English song. His original material and his choice of traditional songs show a deep affection for classic Americana in the vein of the Carter Family as well as traditional English, Scottish and Irish songs. He sites his father and his parent’s record collection as a major influence in his arrangements of English and more specifically Yorkshire songs. Skiffle is also a strong influence on Sam’s material and he is a huge fan of Lonnie Donnegan. Sam has played alongside several important folk, blues and country artists including Mississippi blues musician T-Model Ford, Georgia based blues singer Kent Duchaine and the Texan country artist Jace Everett. He was recently invited to play at the seventh fifth anniversary celebrations for the historic Cecil Sharpe House in London.
In the summer of 2007 he toured California, playing shows in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, San Louis Obispo and San Clemente. Sam is known for his direct, uncompromising heartfelt live performances and has pursued a remarkably busy gig schedule since embarking on a solo career in 2005. Sam is as comfortable playing in folk clubs as he is in font of rock, punk and rock audiences and his fan base is composed of music lovers from the folk, blues, country and punk scenes. Sam’s primary ambition is to become a professional touring musician. He also plans to continue to develop his repertoire and continue to further explore the English and especially Yorkshire musical tradition. The Yorkshire Rambler EP is due to be released on Don’t Tell Clare records in late October an will be distributed through Cargo.
www.sambarrett.co.uk