An evening with Lewis Pugh & Sam Barrett at Cafe No9

Event information

“Lewis Pugh & The Burner Band are instinctive country music and rock & roll naturals. Authentic & effortless, these boys can really play” Andy Kershaw

"Tragically Beautiful Left of Centre Insurgent Folk From the Wild West of the People’s Republic of Yorkshire." Rocking Magpie

"You might even call him the cowpunk Billy Bragg!" At The Barrier

"Pugh is a very canny and provocative songwriter" Rocking Magpie

Lewis Pugh is a prolific songwriter influenced by everything from bluegrass, country, folk through to skiffle and punk. Brought up going to bluegrass and folk festivals with his family who were often performing, such as Cambridge Folk Festival and Edale Bluegrass Festival, Lewis' appreciation of roots music came at a young age. After playing in countless punk and metal bands from age of 12 until 26, Lewis gradually shifted back to the music of his upbringing. Self-releasing his first solo album in 2017, he has since released 'Dark Wheels turn Above Our Heads' in 2020 and 'Bullets for Bread' in 2024, finding a sound between country, folk and bluegrass with a distinct political slant. In between albums there have been countless singles & EP's, often raising money for homeless outreaches or food banks.

Pugh has supported the likes of Ferocious Dog, The Mary Wallopers, Bob Log III & The Legendary Shack Shakers. He has performed at the legendary Topic Folk Club in Bradford and Otley Folk Club. He has appeared at Maverick Festival, Orwell Bluegrass Festival, Hexham Bluegrass Festival and Strummer Camp. Previous albums have received rave reviews Saving Country Music, FATEA Magazine, Celtic Punks and the Rocking Magpie.

Lewis's third solo album 'Bullets for Bread' was released on vinyl in March 2024 on Leeds based indie label 'Shed Load Records'.

Lewis has also recorded with Jason and the Scorchers frontman Jason Ringenberg and Victoria Liedtke on the Grammy Nominated Dolly Parton and Porter Wagnor tribute album 'More than Words', released in 2023, contributing guitar & banjo to the album.

'Featherstone Massacre', Lewis' song about a tragedy which happened in West Yorkshire in 1893, has recently appeared on a documentary film by Ian Clayton about the events. He also plays with The Burner Band, a five piece country and rock 'n roll band, featuring pedal steel and electric guitar, who are working on their 3rd record of original songs.

**********************************************************************************

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 dexterous 12 string 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

**********************************************************************************

Please note this ticket price DOES include a BYOB fee should you wish to bring alcohol to the venue.

All additional purchases of drinks and sweet treats from the cafe counter are always very much appreciated.