Sam Shackleton

Born in Stirling and raised across different regions of Scotland, from the Borders to the Highlands, Sam Shackleton develops a repertoire that extends the tradition of Scottish oral lore while linking it to those of Ireland and the United States. Also known as Sorley the Bard, Sam Shackleton performs in an acoustic folk register where country, old-time, traditional ballads and blues intersect, with an approach shaped by the heritage of the 1960s folk revival. His work blends personal writing, interpretation of ancient songs and attention to popular narrative forms, in a format that prioritizes voice, song and transmission. Trained in the study of these repertoires, Sam Shackleton holds a Master of Research in Scottish Ethnology earned at the School of Scottish Studies, with a specialization in folklore and ethnomusicology, a path that illuminates the central place of collective memory and the Scottish landscape in his music. Parallel to the stage, Sam Shackleton also practices busking and circulates his songs in varied contexts, between concert, street and living tradition.