Sam Robbins is often described as an “old soul singer songwriter.” A New England based musician whose music evokes classic 70’s singer songwriters like James Taylor and Neil Young, Sam adds a modern, upbeat edge to the storyteller troubadour persona. This past July, Sam took the stage to open for Jason Mraz at our Emerging Artist Benefit Concert as one of the grand prize winners of our emerging artist grant. He was also one of the six 2021 winners in the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition, one of the largest and most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country.
Sam released his debut album, Finally Feeling Young in 2021. The album is reminiscent of his singer-songwriter heroes, with a modern perspective. On the heels of the award winning opening single, ‘Remind Me”, Finally Feeling Young has already garnered radio airplay and critical acclaim. Two album tracks, ‘Remind Me’ and ‘Saying Amen’, won him a place as one of the six Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk winners. Americana Highways writes: “He writes of subjects that others don’t explore. Saying Amen has Robbins touching that special place Leonard Cohen went. This is brilliance.” Fateau Records in the UK writes “One of the most promising new songwriters of his generation”.
A multi-instrumentalist from a young age, Sam began learning drums and piano, falling in love with guitar at age 13. He then started writing original music, recording his first CD during his sophomore year of high school, while playing open mics in his hometown of Portsmouth, NH.
Over his career, Sam has performed countless shows across the country, in theaters, house concerts, biker bars, weddings, proposals, frat parties, and everything in between. Sam is able to tour full time, and feels at home in both intimate listening rooms and larger venues. Wherever he is performing, Sam builds an intimate, easy connection with the listener, naturally creating a feeling of closeness throughout the performance.
Following his graduation from Berklee College of Music, Sam moved to Nashville where he made a splash in music city – performing at the Bluebird Cafe within a month of moving, and sitting in again at the legendary venue with Liz Longley in February. Sam was the audience winner of the “Nashville Rising Song” qualifier event in September, and won the Eddie’s Attic Songwriter’s shootout competition in Atlanta in early March 2020.
Working on his newest album this past summer, Sam is eager to release his new music in 2025.
