Samuel James launches his first ever Irish tour in Cork's Cyprus Avenue on Saturday, July 12, a double-header with reggae artists Harry J and the Acoustic Conspiracy (featuring honorary Corkman, Niwel Tsumbu). Samuel James is a performer of stunningly singular talent. A master of fingerstyle, slide, banjo, harmonica, and piano, he is yet to reach his thirties. With musical influences ranging from Skip James and Sonny Terry to Gus Cannon and Charley Patton, such understanding of pre-war blues is rarely embodied in the music of one person.

Combined with a long musical pedigree, his interest in early 20th century blues and his innate musicality, James' music is a landmark on today's world map, a young man singing old music for today's youth. According to James himself, "Pre-war blues is much more intimate for me…much like a conversation. I'm not really drawn to anything contemporary because it's not nearly as engaging".

But Samuel James is not a revivalist. His writing is descended from the long forgotten art of the songster, and as such, they really don't make them like this anymore. While musically one could compare him to Patton or Cannon, his writing goes in another direction entirely. His songs are often written as linear stories, novels in musical format: O'Henry meets Mose Allison.

James' musical lineage stretches back to immediate post-slavery. His grandfather (b. 1890) played guitar in contemporary blues styles of the era. James' father was a professional pianist, and trombone player. He learned to tap dance at five, to play piano at eight, and was touring the Northeastern US by the age of twelve. He fled to Ireland, the homeland of his mother's family, after a failed romance and learned to play harmonica while there. Ireland has ever since been a place of great comfort to his soul. When he returned to the US, he learned to play guitar. Samuel lost his mother the same year and spent his teens in foster homes. At 17 he reunited and rekindled a relationship with his father.

Today, still in his 20s, James releases his second CD entitled Songs Famed for Sorrow and Joy. The CD was recorded by numbers: One artist, five days, nine microphones, two guitars, one banjo, both feet for percussion and 100% acoustic. Head to Cyprus Avenue on Saturday, July 12 for some authentic torch blues.

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