Sam Shackleton

Also known by his Gaelic moniker, Sorley the Bard, is a Scottish singer-
songwriter and folk artist. His music is greatly inspired by the rich inter-connected musical oral traditions of Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. Strongly influenced by the 1960’s
folk revival, his unique sound is a mix of country, old time, traditional, folk, and blues
with a Scottish spirit. He was born in Stirling and raised all over Scotland, from the Borders
to the Highlands and his music is deeply inspired by the oral tradition, musical culture, and landscapes of Scotland.

Sam also holds a research masters degree with distinction in Scottish Ethnology from the
renowned academic folk music institution, the School of Scottish Studies, specializing in
folklore and ethnomusicology. He spends his days writing, performing, and busking across the
world, sharing his unique and authentic musical style through his own writing and interpretation
of the folk traditions, songs, and ballads that came before him. He views all of his music as
part of the carrying stream of folk tradition.

After building up a large local following busking and performing sold out gigs in his
hometown of Edinburgh, Sam quickly burst onto the US and international folk scene in 2020
after featuring on popular Nashville based country and folk music channel, GemsOnVHS, with
his videos gaining hundreds and thousands of views on YouTube and Instagram. He has since
released his popular debut album Causeway Recordings – awarded Top of the World by
Songlines magazine – and his subsequent EP Scottish Folk Ballads of Freedom to much
critical acclaim. In recent months, Sam’s videos busking around Scotland have been going viral on TikTok and Instagram and he has also gathered a large and loyal fanbase of followers and
listeners on Spotify and YouTube.