Sam Proctor is one of the most in-demand fiddle players on the Irish music scene in London. He has performed at major venues across the UK and internationally, and been a mainstay on the session scenes in London and the South East for over five years. Originally from Nottingham, Sam took up the fiddle at the age of 8, immediately showing a great aptitude and affinity for traditional music. Through folk festivals and family holidays in Ireland, Sam was continually exposed to Irish music and musicians throughout his formative years. Already and accomplished musician by the age of 13, Sam began attending Irish music sessions on a regular basis, and at 16 joined his first band, the Celtic Rock group Da Dog. Sam completed a degree in sound recording at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in 2001, performing and attending sessions throughout the North West whilst studying. He spent the year following his degree touring the USA, Asia and Australia, having been invited to join the dance show 'Spirit of Ireland'. Sam has performed extensively throughout the UK, including at the Camden and Hammersmith Irish centres, the Return to Camden Town, Liverpool and Wimbourne Festivals, at the Leeds Gathering, and in Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square as part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations. Natural Progression, Sam's debut solo recording, was primarily an opportunity to bring together some of the great musicians he has worked with over the years, and to document repertoire that he's gathered through years of playing in sessions. Based mainly around Irish music, the album includes a range of traditional and newly composed material, and Sam's exposure to other musical traditions is also apparent in the inclusion of English, Norwegian and Canadian tunes. Sam has worked with the musicians on the album in various contexts, some he has known since he was a child, including Tim Edey (Lunasa, Michael McGoldrick Trio) and Luke Daniels (Riverdance, De Dannan, Broderick). He met Mike Galvin (Frankie Gavin Band, Niamh Ni Charra) and Chris O'Malley whilst touring with the 'Spirit of Ireland’ dance show. Brothers Matt and Dan Griffin (Mise) Sam knows through sessions in London and The Herschel Arms. And of course he has known Kate Proctor longer than any of the other musicians! The twins perform the final track on the album, Chloe's Passion, with Dave Kosky on guitar. Press Reaction to Natural Progression: “His debut is built on an electrifying partnership with Tim Edey on guitar, the pair blithely high-stepping it between the dark pools of the Irish tradition and a world where subtle jazz-tinged moods lure the listener towards infinity.” Siobhán Long, The Irish Times "Choice material and a steady hand laced with an imaginative approach, Sam Proctor is a new and worthwhile talent" John O'Regan, fRoots "A remarkably good debut album" Geoff Wallis, Irish Music Review "an instantly likeable CD.... proves he’s a force to be reckoned with" Shelley Marsden, The Irish World "...very tasty fiddling......the quality is consistently high" Alex Maonaghan, Irish Music Magazine "All the best bits of traditional music entwined with flashes of a brand new style." Folk and Roots "His debut CD is stunning...shows a side of Sam that I hadn’t heard before, suggesting that he’s closer to Chris Stout and Aidan O’Rourke in his philosophy of experimentation" Trevor Buck, Fiddle On Magazine.