Sam Sweeney is a multi-instrumental English folk musician.

Sweeney was introduced to folk music as a child through his parents’ record collection. He taught himself to play traditional pieces by ear and started playing the fiddle at age six. His first performance as a soloist was at a folk festival in 2001. From 2002 to 2010, he was part of the folk band Kerfuffle, where he played fiddle, viola, and cajon.

After Kerfuffle disbanded, Sweeney formed a duo with Hannah James. He joined the eleven-piece band Bellowhead from 2008 to 2016, playing fiddle and bagpipes. Sweeney also toured with Jon Boden and was part of Fay Hield’s band. In 2015, he formed the folk supergroup Leveret. Sweeney helped establish the UK’s National Youth Folk Ensemble and became its first Artistic Director. He began his solo career in 2018 with the album The Unfinished Violin. Sweeney has won several awards, including the ‘Musician of the Year’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2015.