SAM AMIDON

Friday 5:00 PM at the Knoxville Museum of Art
Iva Bittova + Calder Quartet + Sam Amidon

Saturday 5:00 PM at the Square Room
Sam Amidon w/ eric-jon + Paper Hats & Mountains of Moss

Musically, Sam Amidon divides his time between solo projects and various bands, including Doveman, Stars Like Fleas and The Amidons, a band formed by his parents and dedicated to traditional dance and music forms.

Sam’s first release, But The Chicken Proved False Hearted, a collaboration with Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman), focused on songs cherry-picked from the vast repertoire of traditional American folk music.  Stylus called it “The most interesting folk album of 2007.”
His most recent recording, All Is Well, (the Pitchfork review) is a truly remarkable collection of traditional songs set against intricately woven backdrops, with Amidon’s smoky voice in the foreground. Besides vocal duties, Sam also plays banjo, acoustic and electric guitar and fiddle.  He may be described as a folk singer, but rather than be restricted to traditional folk accompaniment, he introduces brass, discreet electronic burbles, and metallic clinks as soundtrack elements.  It all works, beautifully.

Some artists start off good and then hit a rough patch, however Sam Amidon is the exception to most rules, he gets better and better with each album. I See the Sign will be his fourth album, and comes out on March 1. Once again, it’s an album of traditional folkie tunes, and even includes a duet with Neko Case, but expect the same level of innovation that has become a hallmark of every Sam Amidon record to date.  Sam Amidon will be performing as part of The 802 Tour at Big Ears.