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BBC
2010 Folk Awards - Horizon award nominee
Described
by Bellowhead's Jon Boden as ‘The finest English-style finger-picking
guitarist of his generation’, Sam Carter
is a startlingly perceptive and self-assured young singer and guitarist
from the Midlands. He's spent the last few years busily honing his craft
both as a writer and performer, studying guitar with Martin Simpson
whilst holding down his post as Emerging Artist in Residence at London’s
Southbank Centre.
Recently
Sam has been made an appearance on BBC Radio 2's Bob Harris show and
been part of a Davy Graham tribute show at Cecil Sharp House, London -
if you pop over to his Myspace site you can catch a superb performance
of 'Hardiman The Fiddler' as arranged by the sadly missed ledendary
guitarist.
Armed with a 'killer voice' (Nitin Sawhney)
and the
ability to play his guitar 'like a harp' (Time Out), as well as an
unerring ability to put his personal experiences into a wider
perspective, Sam is now certain to make his mark with his wonderful
debut album 'Keepsakes'.
"Keepsakes
is a surefire collectible" Independent
"One
of the most gifted acoustic guitarists of his generation" Mike
Harding
"A
sophisticated blender of ancient and modern" Uncut
"He’s
intriguing both because he’s an excellent guitarist and an original,
distinctively English singer-songwriter, specialising in well-observed
songs." The Guardian
"There’s
a cinematic quality to his writing enhanced by clever arrangements"
Mojo
"An
English acoustic virtuoso… Fans of acoustic music rejoice, the UK ’s
proud tradition of folk singer-songwriters is in safe hands" Guitarist
Virtuosity
is not supposed to be rewarded in English folk music …there’s
real talent budding here.’ **** Independent on Sunday
Ewan
McLennan is a young Scottish musician who's been impressing
audiences all over the UK including large venues such as London's
Southbank (where we first saw him). Ewan's singing and playing covers
the broad range folk music has to offer; from traditional ballads sung
unaccompanied, to dance tunes or melancholic airs arranged for the
guitar, and, as importantly, his own contemporary songwriting that
follows firmly in the folk tradition. Having grown up in Scotland,
Scottish songs and tunes naturally form a large part of his repertoire.
However, his singing and playing around Yorkshire where he has lived for
the last four years, his study of the songs of the working class
movement in Britain and America, and his love of Irish traditional
singing all ensure that the origins and focus of his songs are varied.
Ewan's accomplished guitar work and unique vocal style convey his
passion for the music he sings and writes.
"Ewan
is an outstanding singer and stunning guitar player" Sheffield Live
Radio
"Don't
you love it when you come across music that is new to you and you find
that it delights and excites you? ...A listener emailed me to say I
should listen to Ewan McLennan. So I did...the only way I can describe
McLennan is as coming from the same stable as Dick Gaughan and Archie
Fisher, while at the same time being truly original. His voice is clear
and strong with an appealing vibrato and his feeling for the narrative
is strong and consistent. This is what the Irish call "the pure
drop"...I'm sure you'll like him.' Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2
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