Sam Slatcher

Folk songwriter, storyteller and community artist living and working in the North East of England.

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I'm a singer-songwriter and creative practitioner working and living in the North East of England. My work aims to inspire hope, spark connection and share unheard stories of belonging.

I've been a freelance artist since 2018, primarily as a singer-songwriter working closely with local communities, heritage groups and arts organisations to create new songs, stories and scenic worlds. I live and work in Durham, writing, performing and producing community projects in the city and the wider county. In September 2026, I began an artist residency as an Arts Chaplain at St Margaret's of Antioch, nurturing arts, faith and culture in the city, supporting local artists and building creative partnerships with the wider cultural sector.

Live & upcoming
29–30 Jul2026

A Pilgrim's Song — Durham Fringe Festival

Cafédral, Durham · 6.35pm · £11 / £8

Tickets →
14 Aug2026

RTMinds Fundraising Concert

RT Open Art Studio · A night of songs and stories · Doors 7pm, starts 7.30pm

Details →
15 Aug2026

A Song for Weardale

Weardale Methodist Church School Rooms, DL13 2UP · A community singing workshop, learning a new song for Weardale

Tickets →
23 Aug2026

Launch of 'The Light'

The Light, Aykley Heads, Durham, DH1 5TU · Featuring music from the North East, 1–4pm

Details →
27 Sep2026

Passengers & Pioneers Revisited

Heighington Station, 2pm · Marking 201 years of the Stockton & Darlington Railway

Details →
29 Jan2027

White Room Music Cafe

The North East’s best kept independent venue secret! Intimate gig at the White Room Music Cafe in Stanley, County Durham

Details TBC

For bookings, house concerts and commissions, get in touch below.

Sam Slatcher with a ukulele in a spring garden
About

I'm a singer-songwriter and creative practitioner living in Durham. My passion is all about creating immersive worlds through songs and stories that inspire hope, spark connection and share unheard stories of belonging.

Most of my songs have grown out of real collaborations — with people seeking sanctuary, with railway communities marking 200 years of the Stockton & Darlington line, with charities, schools and museums. The work has taken me from Durham Cathedral to performing live at Paddington Station, and onto BBC Two and the BBC Folk Show.

Projects

Some of the highlights of past projects.

2018–2026

Citizen Songwriters

A social enterprise I set up to bring people together through songwriting and storytelling. Over the 8 years of work, Citizen Songwriters engaged hundreds of community groups, schools, museums, churches and heritage organisations across the North East through workshops and performances. Unique songs were created with communities to reflect the people, places and causes that mattered to them. Read more about past projects here.

2023–2025

Passengers & Pioneers

Artist in residence on the Bishop Line for the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. Commissioned by The Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership with funding from CrossCountry, Northern and the Community Rail Network, with poets Lizzie Lovejoy, Carmen Marcus, Rowan McCabe and Harry Gallagher and playwright Becci Sharrock. Featured on Michael Portillo's Two Hundred Years of the Railways, BBC Two.

2018–2024

Stories of Sanctuary

An Arts Council England project bringing refugees and local residents in County Durham together to write songs, with violist Raghad Haddad of the Syrian National Orchestra. A sold-out performance at Durham Cathedral and a 13-song album.

“A true community through song.”

Read more about this project here.

2019–2022

The Secret Garden

Musical director and composer for a Queen's Hall Hexham co-commission with writer Becci Sharrock. Four new songs and a 70-minute score for a show about nature, friendship and young people finding their way in the world, made for ages 8 to 12.

The music

Five records of songs and stories.

2025

Passengers & Pioneers

Twelve songs and poems marking 200 years of the railways. Featured on BBC Two's 200 Years of the Railways.

Listen on Bandcamp →
2022

Cradle of the Railways

Songs born from the landscapes and history of the North East's railway heritage.

Listen on Bandcamp →
2020

Chaos & Solitude

A personal and political solo album reflecting on a changing world, inviting one to reconnect with nature, discover breath and the kindness of strangers in our midst.

Listen on Bandcamp →
2018

Stories of Sanctuary

Made with people seeking refuge and musicians of the Syrian National Orchestra. Performed at Durham Cathedral.

Listen on Bandcamp →
Find the music on Bandcamp Spotify YouTube
Collaboration

The best nights are never a solo act.

Song alongside poetry. Music alongside miniature worlds. My favourite work happens when different voices meet — with artists, deep thinkers and communities — around a shared story.

Have an idea, a venue, or a story worth telling together? Let's talk.

Other news

In September 2026 I began a new role as Arts Chaplain at St Margaret's Church Durham, nurturing creativity in the church and the wider parish through creative gatherings, walks, talks and arts installations. You can keep up to date with this work via my TikTok page and via my SubStack page.

Sam Slatcher performing
Honest, reflective songwriting — full of the warmth of humanity and a longing for peace and justice. As featured on BBC Two & BBC Introducing

Stay in touch.

New songs, upcoming shows and the occasional miniature world — straight to your inbox, every so often.

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Get in touch

Let's make something together.

For bookings, house concerts, commissions and collaborations — I'd love to hear from you.

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