An evening with Carter Sampson at Cafe#9
Tickets

An evening with Carter Sampson at Cafe#9

With special support from Banjo Jen

Presented by: Cafe#9
SHEFFIELD: Cafe#9 (map)
Thursday 6th June, 2024
Door time: 7:00pm, Start time: 7:30pm
All ages (under 14s must be accompanied by an adult)

Event Information

Carter Sampson is an Okie-born singer/songwriter with a big voice.

The Oklahoma City-based artist is blessed by a musical family legacy that includes talents like Roy Orbison.


Her journey as a naturally independent, free-spirited musician has seemed almost predestined at times. At age 15 she began experimenting with sound as a way to pass the time; now her creativity has matured into the dedicated and passionate performance that makes her a favorite female vocalist.

“I’m pretty much the same me working on the same goals … maybe a little more grown up. I think I am more confident than I was when I first started playing. I’ve always been brave, but I’m more sure of myself now,” Sampson exuded.

As a relatable artist, her empowering music appeals to a wide range of folks, who are incredibly and admirably loyal to her and her work. She’s the founder and director of Oklahoma City’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls, which always partners with nonprofit organizations that empower girls and women through music education.

The inspiring artist also averages about 220 shows annually – in areas like Oklahoma and Arkansas, as well as Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. But as the self-penned ‘Queen of Oklahoma,’ Sampson’s red boots are happiest when they’re on her home turf.

“I am proud to be from Oklahoma and really proud of the music that is coming out of the state right now. I wish we were more progressive in a lot of areas, but it feels like slowly change is happening.”

Though she travels for the love of making music, she’s no stranger to awards. She was named a Top 12 Finalist in the 2012 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest and performed at Lincoln Center in New York. This year, she won first place in the general category of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest in Wilkesboro, N.C. – with her song “Wild Bird”, which was additionally released by Pinecastle Records.

She also won fourth place in the Colorado-based Telluride Troubadour Contest at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and was a Top 10 Finalist in the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival’s Songwriters Showcase in Lyons, Colo.

Her third album, Good for the Meantime, was released in 2008. Then in 2011, she launched a Kickstarter project for Mockingbird Sing, in which she gave supporters rewards to help secure adequate funds within 30 days. After that huge success, she recorded a five-track acoustic EP, Thirty Three, at Treelady Studios in Pittsburgh/Turtle Creek, Penn.

“I feel like I am right where I am supposed to be doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing,” Sampson said, reflecting on the long road that led to right now.

Her fourth full-length studio album, Wilder Side, was released on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. Like Good for the Meantime it features the heady handywork of producer/multi-instrumentalist Travis Linville, who, like Sampson, has a unique sound all his own.

“I loved working with Linville on Good for the Meantime; he was so laid back, encouraging and fun to be around. I’d been thinking about asking him to engineer my new project, and when I heard his last EP (Sun and Moon) I knew I wanted him to help me with it (Wilder Side). I love the dreamy feel that EP has and there’s a lot of that on Wilder Side,” Sampson said.

Carter's 5th studio album LUCKY was released on Horton Records in Oct. 2018.

‘Sampson deserves all the success that will continue to come her way’
No Depression

‘Sampson is not just Oklahoma’s but one of Americana’s finest singer/songwriters’
American Songwriter

‘Heartfelt, sincere, and honest. There’s an inherent happiness that populates a Carter Sampson record and it’s something I’ve truly come to look forward to with each album she’s released’
Americana Highways

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Sheffield-based artist Banjo Jen is difficult to categorise but easy to fall for. Her unique brand of folky Americana, with insightful observations and an eclectic original repertoire, has seen her gain a growing reputation as one to watch on the UK singer-songwriter scene. With razor-sharp songwriting, percussive Appalachian step-dancing and engaging between-song banter, her refreshingly original live act is guaranteed to win the heart of every crowd.

Perhaps Jen’s unusual heritage of roots in both the tropical Bahamas and the gritty UK ex-mining town of Worksop has contributed to her fascination with juxtaposition; with contrasts and contradictions; of looking at life from different angles and alternative perspectives. Her songs explore light and shade, humour and sorrow, hopes and fears, the pleasurable and the darker aspects of being a mere floundering human trapped on this crazy rollercoaster ride of life. She’s still waiting for an acceptable explanation from her parents as to why they chose Worksop over the Bahamas!

Jen also took a somewhat unusual path to becoming a musician. A metalsmith and an Art & Design teacher by training, she cut her teeth in workshops and classrooms, not bands and bar rooms (well, she may have drunk in the bar rooms!). But a few questionable life choices later, and inspired by her icons Dolly Parton, Billy Connolly and Kermit the Frog, she’d bought a banjo and taught herself how to play it. Throwing her settled life up in the air and moving to Sheffield with little more than the banjo on her back, she was bestowed the nickname ‘Banjo Jen’ and encouraged by friends and other musicians to start performing her own original songs. Suddenly she was discovering her calling and found herself on the compelling but cripplingly unprofitable journey to becoming a folk singer-songwriter.

Tipped by Maverick magazine for a ‘long musical career’, Jen hit the ground running by playing fringe events in Austin TX during SXSW 2017 - just a couple of months after her first ever gig. She's since been selected by the Americana Music Association UK to showcase at both Red Rooster and The Long Road festivals, was invited to perform at Eagle Music / Deering Banjo Company’s banjo event of the year, and has played numerous folk and Americana events and supported many touring British and international acts.

The ‘smart and sassy’ debut EP “Lost & Found” is a collection of Jen’s early songs, showcasing her rhythmic ‘frailing’ style of banjo-playing and her fiercely melodic approach to songwriting. The eagerly-awaited follow-up EP “Cloud of Dust” was released in 2022 and is a collection of the more country-style songs in Jen's repertoire, recorded with a full band (including backing vocals by Bob Harris Emerging Artist 2022 award-winner Lauren Housley and production by AMA UK award-nominee Thomas Dibb). The release of this recording saw Jen complete her first headline tour and gain many new fans at her entertaining live shows. Jen is often accompanied live by punchy double bass, courtesy of Johnny Griff, and the accordion and haunting backing vocals of El Heneghan. There’s a lot more to come from this charming Yorkshire songstress, so grab yourself some cowboy boots and come along for the ride.

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Please note this ticket price DOES include a byo/corkage fee should you want to bring alcohol to the venue.

All additional purchases of drinks and snacks from the cafe counter are always very much appreciated.

Tickets

General Admission

9 tickets available

Ticket price£15.00
Booking fee£1.50
Total£16.50

    Venue Information

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