About this Event
The Sam Kelly Duo - Sam Kelly & Jamie Francis
Sam Kelly writes and arranges most of his material with his main musical collaborator, Jamie Francis. After meeting at university in Brighton in 2010 and discovering a common interest in roots music, Sam and Jamie began playing together in a folk band, with Jamie (a guitar player first and foremost) deciding to learn to play the banjo because Sam was already the guitarist. They also performed at many open mics and venues as a duo, performing original, folk and blues songs. Naturally, the lives of two young musicians who have absolutely no idea what they’re doing included many colourful experiences (including Sam auditioning for ITV´s Britain´s Got Talent whilst in London for a gig and ending up getting all the way to the final). They still perform together at folk clubs, venues and festivals, performing inventive interpretations of tunes and songs in between (occasionally) funny anecdotes and stories of their misadventures.
As a child, Sam loved listening to his Irish grandfather tell folk tales, sing songs, and play tunes on his melodeon. This passion for Celtic music, coupled with a love for the heavy riffs of classic rock and blues, and a voice described by Mike Harding as ‘one of my favourite voices ever’ has led Sam to produce some of the most exciting music on the British folk scene in recent years.
Amongst many projects Sam works with The Lost Boys known for their eclectic and innovative reworking of traditional songs and tunes from England, Scotland, Ireland and the USA, as well as stunning original music and the occasional surprise classic rock cover. He also plays guitar and bouzouki in the band of Yorkshire folk singer Kate Rusby.
With Jamie he is currently working on a new album which will take the listener on an eclectic journey all the way from fantastical moonlit adventures of privateering and poaching, to introspective reflection and solemnity.