Sam Proctor profile picture

Sam Proctor

About Me


Sam Proctor is one of the most in-demand fiddle players on the Irish music scene in London. He has performed at major venues across the UK and internationally, and been a mainstay on the session scenes in London and the South East for over five years.
Originally from Nottingham, Sam took up the fiddle at the age of 8, immediately showing a great aptitude and affinity for traditional music. Sam’s parents were staunch supporters of traditional music and ran the famous Co-op Folk Club in Nottingham. Through the club, folk festivals and family holidays in Ireland, Sam was continually exposed to Irish music and musicians throughout his formative years. Already and accomplished musician by the age of 13, Sam began attending Irish music sessions on a regular basis, and at 16 joined his first band, the Celtic Rock group Da Dog.
Sam completed a degree in sound recording at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 2001, performing and attending sessions throughout the North West whilst studying. He spent the year following his degree touring the USA, Asia and Australia, having been invited to join the dance show 'Spirit of Ireland'.
In 2003 Sam moved to the London area to become a tutor in Music Technology at Thames Valley University, and at the recommendation of Luke Daniels began attending the legendary Irish session at The Herschel Arms pub in Slough, one of the longest running and most coveted sessions in the South East. He has been the anchor musician at this session and sessions in central London ever since.
Sam has performed extensively throughout the UK, including at the Camden and Hammersmith Irish centres, the Return to Camden Town, Liverpool and Wimbourne Festivals, at the Leeds Gathering, and in Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square as part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations.
Contact - info @ samproctor . com (remove the spaces).
Press Reaction to Natural Progression:
“His debut is built on an electrifying partnership with Tim Edey on guitar, the pair blithely high-stepping it between the dark pools of the Irish tradition and a world where subtle jazz-tinged moods lure the listener towards infinity.” Siobhán Long, The Irish Times
"an instantly likeable CD.... proves he’s a force to be reckoned with" Shelley Marsden, The Irish World
"...very tasty fiddling......the quality is consistently high" Alex Maonaghan, Irish Music Magazine
"All the best bits of traditional music entwined with flashes of a brand new style." Folk and Roots
"His debut CD is stunning...shows a side of Sam that I hadn’t heard before, suggesting that he’s closer to Chris Stout and Aidan O’Rourke in his philosophy of experimentation" Trevor Buck, Fiddle On Magazine.
CD available for £11.50 (inc p&p) from www.samproctor.com
Make your own banner at MyBannerMaker.com!
Distributed in the UK by Proper Distribution. (www.proper-records.co.uk) and in Ireland by Claddagh Records (www.claddaghrecords.com). Please visit either to purchase a copy on-line.
CD and Downloads Now Available in USA/Rest of world at CD Baby:
CD - $16. MP3 Download - $10.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 30/04/2007
Band Website: www.samproctor.com
Band Members: Musicians on the album:Tim Edey - Guitar Mike Galvin - Guitar and Bass Matt Griffin - Guitar Dan Griffin - Bodhran Dave Kosky - Guitar Frank Doherty - Guitar Duncan Lyall - Double Bass Chris O'Malley - Keys Luke Daniels - Button Accordeon Kate Proctor - Flute
Influences: Cathal Hayden, Frankie Gavin, Tommy Peoples, Paddy Glackin, DeDanann, Michael McGoldrick, Paul Bradley, Altan, Lunasa, Bothy Band, Deiseal, Shooglenifty, Capercaillie, Flook, Begley & Cooney, Dervish and many more!
Record Label: Higlet Recordings
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Folking.com review of Natural Progression

  Sam Proctor is a London-based fiddler, who has been immersed in the Irish tradition from a young age. Natural Progression is an effervescent collection of traditional and contemporary tunes, fu...
Posted by on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:24:00 GMT

Irish Times Review of Natural Progression

SAM PROCTORNatural Progression****There's a clarity of tone from Sam Proctor's fiddle, the product of close listening to the likes of Chris Stout and Gerry "Banjo" O'Connor. His debut is built on an e...
Posted by on Sat, 03 May 2008 02:28:00 GMT

Irish World Review of Natural Progression

The Irish World.Fierce bit of fiddlingSam Proctor’s debut proves he’s a force to be reckoned with. By Shelley Marsden - 08/04/08Nottingham-born Proctor has been playing in London, the Sout...
Posted by on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:00:00 GMT