South Wales folk fans are in for a real treat this month as one of the genre’s finest musicians stops off at St David’s Hall in Cardiff on Tue 30 Nov as part of Roots Unearthed. Thanks in no small part to his role as a member of the mighty Bellowhead, award-winning fiddle player Sam Sweeney is one of the most recognisable musicians on the current British folk scene and is also one of the most in-demand.
Having lent his considerable talents to almost 50 albums by everyone from Fay Hield and Eliza Carthy to Jim Moray, Rosie Doonan, Emily Portman and Fisherman’s Friends, he’s also toured with the likes of Fay Hield’s Hurricane Party, Jon Boden And The Remnant Kings and The Full English ensemble.
Add to that his role as a founding member (with Andy Cutting and Rob Harbron) of folk supergroup Leveret and you have to wonder how he’s found the time to launch the critically acclaimed solo career that’s led to appearances on BBC Radio 2, 3, 4, 6Music and even BBC Breakfast and The Antiques Roadshow.
Not bad going for someone who’s still in his early 30s, but hardly surprising for anyone who’s followed a career that began when Sweeney played his first public gig at the age of just 12 and formed his first band, Kerfuffle, a year later with his brother Tom (bass), Hannah James (accordion) and Chris Thornton-Smith (guitar).
The aforementioned TV appearances came about due to the interest generated by Sam’s multimedia project The Unfinished Violin: the story of music hall performer Richard Howard, who was halfway through building a fiddle when called away to fight during WWI. His death on the battlefield meant the fiddle wasn’t completed until many years later, eventually ending up in Sweeney’s hands, who traced its history.
Sam’s latest release Unearth Repeat moves away from his connection to the First World War with a sound that’s very different to The Unfinished Violin. The string sections, piano and harmonium have been discarded as Sam’s new band – Jack Rutter on acoustic guitar, Ben Nicholls on double bass and Louis Campbell on electric guitar – bring a fresh approach to add energy, swagger and groove that’s rarely found in English folk music.
Buzz also recommends:
Daoiri Farrell. Highly rated Irish troubadour plays Llantrisant Folk Club. Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club (Wed 17 Nov)
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