Serious Sam Barrett is a hard touring, folk and country singer/songwriter from Otley, West Yorkshire. Playing honest, heartfelt self penned and traditional songs on 12 string guitar and banjo. Raised in the Dales village of Addingham, Sam began performing in and around Leeds in 2004, with word spreading further afield with the release of his 2009 debut album Close To Home.

Performing at SXSW in Austin, Texas in 2010, he has toured the US widely, usually in the company of friends and fellow skaters The Pine Hill Haints. Along the way, Sam has shared stages with the likes of Martin Carthy, Dave Burland, Katherine Tickell, Lucero, The Young Un's, Frank Fairfield, Deer Tick and Karine Polwart, and received airplay and praise plaudits from the BBC’s Bob Harris, Marc Riley and Mark Radcliffe as well as Mike Harding.

“The sustained brilliance of this playing is really something to behold.” Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

"There's Some real swagger to this" Mark Radcliffe BBC Radio 2 Folk show

“Songs that rattle with the ghosts of Appalachian folk, and southern blues, yet sound emphatically English.” Uncut Magazine

“Old before his years country-folk fellow who mixes intricate John Fahey finger-picking with confessional tales of dirty old Leeds” The Guardian.

“Excellent stripped back folk” Maverick Magazine

“His well crafted original songs are accompanied by his own sparkling clawhammer banjo or dextrous 12 srtring guitar picking.” Froots magazine.

“The continued health of the British folk tradition is safe in the hands of exponents such as Serious Sam Barrett.” Folk Radio UK

“Barrett shows his deft touch in blending English literature, folk and American sound” Americana UK