BIG EARS 2015: Sam Amidon

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Collaboration creeps into every aspect of Sam Amidon’s songwriting. On his latest release, 2014’s subdued but powerful Lily-O, the Vermont-born folk musician worked closely with celebrated jazz guitarist (and fellow Big Ears performer) Bill Frisell, as well as Icelandic composer/producer/engineer Valgeir Sigurðsson, whose affinity for mining bold, stirring themes out of subtle electronics and classical arrangements has led to projects with Björk, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Feist, and others.

But while Amidon has worked directly with a variety of musicians over the course of his nearly decade-long career—friends Thomas Bartlett and Nico Muhly joined him as a part of the 802 Tour at 2010’s Big Ears—his self-dubbed “re-imagined folk songs” are also collaborations in themselves. They’re often stitched together from slices of traditional folk songs and modern offerings (check out his version of R. Kelly’s “Relief”) and rearranged to resemble something new entirely.

Amidon grew up in a musical family, learning the fiddle at an early age and tagging along with his folk-artist parents to various performance circles and education events in his hometown of Brattleboro, Vt. As Amidon explains it, his childhood was immersed in a warm, open musical community, a quality that he was particularly pleased to encounter at 2010’s Big Ears.

“You know, at most festivals people don’t interact with one another quite as often,” Amidon says. “You sort of go on for your performance and that’s it. I really remember the warm atmosphere of that 2010 year. People would stop one another on the street and say hi. It was all much more casual. Plus, it’s always great to perform my music in Tennessee because it’s a source of inspiration for the style of music that I create. Someone could be watching the show and think about how their grandfather played the fiddle or how he used to sit on the porch with a banjo.”

In addition to his solo performance at this year’s festival, Amidon is slated to share the stage with the Kronos Quartet and Carolina Chocolate Drops’ frontwoman Rhiannon Giddens. But beyond his scheduled appearances, Big Ears presents a unique opportunity for Amidon to exert his passion for working with other artists, so you might find him joining in surprise performances.

Kronos Quartet: Folk Songs With Rhiannon Giddens and Sam Amidon • Tennessee Theatre • Saturday, March 28 • 1:30 p.m.

Sam Amidon with Bill Frisell and Shahzad Ismaily • Bijou Theatre • Saturday • March 28 • 10:45 p.m.

Read all our Big Ears coverage here.

Carey started as a lowly Metro Pulse intern in 2009, helping enter calendar listings while learning about the cruel world of independent journalism. Since then, she’s contributed arts/music writing to publications including Paste, Washington City Paper, and more. When she’s not exploring the local arts community, you can find her playing with her cats or attempting to garden.

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