A message from Sam-
It is with great sadness that we have had to postpone the first part of the Unearth Repeat launch tour from May 2020 to May 2021.
It goes without saying that this is going to be a hugely challenging time for everyone. If you feel able, it would be an enormous help to me and Hudson Records if you ordered the new album direct from my website (www.samsweeneymusic.com) to help me recoup some of the money already spent on the tour, and to help make up the huge loss of income for me and my band. There is also a donation button on my website, should you feel so moved, but I’d much rather you bought the album and came to a rescheduled gig!
It’s very strange having put so much effort into something and then not getting to do the best bit - playing it live for you all. But I will be back on the road and I cannot wait to make this music come to life with an audience. In the meantime, enjoy the album and see you later in the year!
Nominated four times, and winner in 2015, of Musician Of The Year BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Sam is a veteran of the mighty Bellowhead, former and inaugural artistic director of the National Youth Folk Ensemble, founder member of the acclaimed instrumental trio Leveret, and “one of the defining English fiddle players of his generation” (Mark Radcliffe) at the forefront of the revival in English traditional music.
After embarking on a solo career, releasing his debut solo album The Unfinished Violin on Unearth Repeat celebrates a new direction, not only for Sam but for English music. His newIsland Records and touring it to sell-out crowds in 2019, Sam is releasing his highly anticipated second solo album, Unearth Repeat, in March 2020.
Unearth Repeat celebrates a new direction, not only for Sam but for English music. His new band are injecting into the tradition something that hasn’t been heard before. The music has the groove and swagger of traditional English music with the huge sound, flare, energy and sound palette more commonly heard within the Celtic and Scandinavian music scenes.
Moving on from his five year connection to the First World War, which inspired his first album and captured the nation’s hearts through appearances on Antiques Roadshow and BBC Breakfast, alongside BBC Radio 2, 3, 4 and 6Music, Unearth Repeat sees Sam making music on his own terms, with a stellar line up of his favourite musicians and a massive sound.
The new band brings together Sam’s unique fiddle playing, the acoustic and electric guitars of Jack Rutter (Seth Lakeman) and Louis Campbell (National Youth Folk Ensemble) and the double bass of Ben Nicholls (Seth Lakeman, Nadine Shah).
“Sweeney’s playing is unearthly at times: the singular focus of this set and the level of its performance makes this an outstanding and deeply moving experience. *****”
“The fiddler with the Midas touch… an English equivalent of the great Irish fiddle player Martin Hayes. ****”
£15.50
Please note, online bookings are subject to a booking fee. Tickets can also be bought by phone on 01729 825718, or in person at our box office. Opening hours are 10am-2pm, Monday-Friday.
Show end times given are an estimate only. Doors open 45 minutes before show start times.