Sam Sweeney

Sam Sweeney (born 27 February 1989 in Nottingham) is a multi-instrumental English folk musician.

For other people named Sam Sweeney, see Sam Sweeney (disambiguation).
Sam Sweeney
Sam Sweeney performing at the Warwick Folk Festival, July 2011
Background information
Birth nameSam Sweeney
Born (1989-02-27) 27 February 1989
Nottingham, England
GenresFolk
Occupation(s)Musician
Years active2001-present
Associated actsHannah James and Sam Sweeney, Kerfuffle, Bellowhead, Fay Hield Trio
WebsiteOfficial website

Career

Sweeney started playing the fiddle at age six, and first performed as a soloist at folk festivals in 2001.[1] From 2002 to 2010 Sweeney was part of the East Midlands-based folk band Kerfuffle, playing fiddle, viola, and cajon, and singing.[2] When Kerfuffle disbanded, Sam continued playing with accordion player and singer Hannah James as the duo Hannah James and Sam Sweeney.

As of 2008, Sweeney is also a member of the award-winning eleven-piece folk band Bellowhead, playing fiddle and English bagpipes.[3]

As of 2009 he tours with Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings, playing both drums and fiddle, sometimes simultaneously.[4]

He is also a member of Fay Hield's band, originally named the Fay Hield Trio but as of 2012 called Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party.[5]

In 2018, he started his solo career with the album, The Unfinished Violin.[6][7] Two years later in 2020, he followed it with his second album, Unearth Repeat.[8]


Awards
Sam Sweeney with curved bow

Sweeney has won a number of awards including the 'In The Tradition' award and the 'Wiltshire Folk Association Young Folk Award', which he won for two years in succession. He was also a nominated in the 2004 BBC Young Folk Awards.[9] In 2007 he won one of five BBC Performing Arts Fund bursaries to help him start his musical career.[5] Sweeney was nominated for the 'Musician of the Year' award at the 2013 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and won this award at the 2015 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.[10] His album "Unheart Repeat" has been crowned "Album of the Year" for 2020 by Bright Young Folk readers with almost the 36% of the votes.

Discography

Hannah James and Sam Sweeney

With Kerfuffle

With Bellowhead

With Fay Hield
  • Looking Glass (2010)[11]
  • Orfeo (2012)[11]
  • Old Adam (2016)[11]

With Circus Envy

With Sam Carter
  • Keepsakes (2009)[11]
  • The No Testement (2012)[11]
  • How the City Sings (2016)[11]

With Rachael McShane
  • No Man's Fool (2010)[11]

With Louise Jordan
  • Born to Wander (2010)[11]

With Charlie Barker
  • Sleeping at the Station (2005)[11]

Solo
  • The Unfinished Violin (2018)[7]
  • Unearth Repeat (2020) [8]

History

In 2006 Sam won a bursary from the BBC performing arts fund.[2]

References
  1. Powlson, Nigel (13 February 2016). "Derbyshire folk musician and former Bellowhead member Sam Sweeney". Derbyshire Life and Countryside. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  2. "Sam Sweeney – Biography". Sam Sweeney Music, official site. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Jon Boden and The Remnant Kings – BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2010 Folk Singer of the Year". Towersey Village Festival. Archived from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Artist Profile: Sam Sweeney". eventseeker.com. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  7. Jackson, Aaron (26 September 2018). "SAM SWEENEY: THE UNFINISHED VIOLIN".
  8. "Sam Sweeney 'Unearth Repeat' Tour comes to Stoller Hall Manchester". Visit Manchester. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  9. "All about Sam Sweeney". bright young folk. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  10. "Award-winning fiddle player Sam Sweeney is back on home turf". www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  11. "Sam Sweeney – Discography". Sam Sweeney Music, official site. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
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