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, creative practitioner and model-maker working and living in the North East of England. My passion is all about creating immersive worlds through songs, stories and miniature scenes that 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. From September 2026, I will be the Arts Chaplain at St Margaret's of Antioch, engaging with the parish through the arts, 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

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23 Aug2026

Launch of 'The Light'

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

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27 Sep2026

Passengers & Pioneers Revisited

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

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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, creative practitioner and model-maker living in Durham. My passion is all about creating immersive worlds through songs, stories and miniature scenes that inspire hope, spark connection and share unheard stories of belonging.

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, and onto BBC Two and the BBC Folk Show.

Projects

Some of the highlights of past projects.

2018–present

Citizen Songwriters

A social enterprise I founded to bring people together through songwriting and storytelling. Workshops and performances with community groups, schools, museums, churches and heritage organisations across the North East.

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 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.”

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

Alongside the music I build miniature worlds — dioramas, model railways and immersive scenes — through workshops and a research fellowship at Durham University (2026–2027).

From September 2026, I will be taking on a new role as Arts Chaplain at St Margaret's Church Durham, connecting the church with an exciting emerging cultural scene in the parish through the arts.

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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