Sam Baxter
Folk Singer // Violinist // Guitarist
About
"In a genre where wearing your influences on your sleeve is the norm, I love that I can’t really tell where Sam Baxter’s ideas have come from. He’s obviously spent a long time studying old singers, and he’s looked to traditional music from elsewhere in Europe for inspiration, but the effect is sounding like nobody but himself. He doesn’t make the music sound pretty, but it never sounds like he’s not in complete control. I think he’s only going to get better with time.”
- Jim Moray, TradFolk
Sam Baxter is an interpreter, arranger, and performer of traditional song. With a skilful blend of electric/acoustic guitars, drones, and fiddle, he creates deeply personal performances filled with warmth and emotion.
Sam sings a carefully selected repertoire, expressing the full gamut of human experience. He is especially interested in how the the thoughts and feelings in traditional music can transcend time and speak to modern audiences. Through his music, he explores stories of love and loss, queer narratives, songs of industry, nature and social injustice.
Originally from the North West, but now based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Sam is gaining a reputation for his work with traditional and contemporary folk music. In 2022 he was included in TradFolk.org's Article ‘Young Folk Musicians you Need to Hear’, and in 2018 he was the winner of Bromyard Folk Festivals ‘Future of Folk’ competition.
Also a sought-after collaborator, he can be found playing in contemporary classical music ensemble Sømnus, with folk-singer and song-writer Catch the Sparrow and in duo with Scottish violinist Merle Harbron. Sam has also toured in Norway with the Synneva Gjelland Band and works with electronic music producer Jen Mac in her project Heen ‘where traditional music meets contemporary production’.
Upcoming Gigs
© 2024 Sam Baxter, photography by Ellen Dixon