Sam Shackleton

Sam Shackleton

Sam Shackleton, also known by the Gaelic moniker Sorley the Bard, is a Scottish singer-songwriter and folk artist from the United Kingdom. He is born in Stirling and raised across Scotland, from the Borders to the Highlands.

Background and studies

He studies Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Scottish Studies, with a focus on folklore and ethnomusicology. He spends much of his time writing, performing and busking in Edinburgh and elsewhere.

Music and influences

Shackleton’s work draws on trans-Atlantic oral traditions from Scotland, Ireland and the United States. He sings and plays banjo, guitar and harmonica. His sound combines country, traditional music, folk and blues, with a distinctly Scottish character. His music is shaped by oral tradition, Scottish musical culture and the landscapes of Scotland, and he sees it as part of the wider folk tradition.

Other projects and recorded work

He is associated with Tunes of Negation and Flesh & the Dream, and with the label Skull Disco. His listed genres also include dubstep and UK garage.