Sam Sweeney
| Sam Sweeney | |
|---|---|
 Sam Sweeney performing at the Warwick Folk Festival, July 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
27 February 1989 Nottingham |
| Genres | Folk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Years active | -present |
| Associated acts | Hannah James and Sam Sweeney, Kerfuffle, Bellowhead, Fay Hield Trio |
| Website | Official website |
| Notable instruments | |
| Fiddle, viola, nyckelharpa, cello, English concertina, English bagpipes, percussion | |
Sam Sweeney (born 27 February 1989 in Nottingham) is a multi-instrumental English folk musician.
Career
Sam started playing the fiddle at age six, and first performed as a soloist at folk festivals in 2001. From 2002 to 2010 Sweeney was part of the East Midlands-based folk band Kerfuffle, playing fiddle, viola, and cajon, and singing.[1] When Kerfuffle disbanded, Sam continued playing with accordion player and singer Hannah James as the duo Hannah James and Sam Sweeney.
As of 2008, Sam is also a member of the award-winning eleven-piece folk band Bellowhead, playing fiddle and English bagpipes.[2]
As of 2009 he tours with Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings, playing both drums and fiddle, sometimes simultaneously.[3]
Sam also is a member of Fay Hield's band, originally named the Fay Hield Trio but as of 2012 called Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party.[4]
Awards
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.[5] In 2007 he won one of five BBC Performing Arts Fund bursaries to help him start his musical career.[4] 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.
Discography
Hannah James and Sam Sweeney
- Catches and Glees (2009)
- State and Ancientry (2012)
With Kerfuffle
- Not to Scale (2003)
- K2 (2004)
- Links (2006)
- To The Ground (2008)
- Lighten The Dark: A Midwinter Album (2009)
With Bellowhead
- Matachin (2008)
- Umbrellowhead (2009)
- Hedonism (2010)
- Broadside (2012)
- Revival (2014)
With Fay Hield
With Circus Envy
With Sam Carter
With Rachael McShane
- No Man's Fool (2010)[6]
With Louise Jordan
- Born To Wander (2010)[6]
History
In 2006 Sam won a bursary from the BBC performing arts fund.[1]
References
- 1 2 "Sam Sweeney – Biography". Sam Sweeney Music, official site. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- ↑ http://www.bellowhead.co.uk/band.html
- ↑ "Jon Boden and The Remnant Kings – BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2010 Folk Singer of the Year". Towersey Village Festival. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- 1 2 http://www.samsweeneymusic.co.uk/Biog/
- ↑ "All about Sam Sweeney". bright young folk. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Sam Sweeney – Discography". Sam Sweeney Music, official site.