Sam Carter Sings Nic Jones, Pound Arts Centre Corsham 25/9/2026.

Two weeks ago I was privileged to see Richard Thompson play in Bradford On Avon, and last night an equally picturesque small Wiltshire town played host to another singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitar player, namely Sam Carter who was performing at the Pound Arts Centre in Corsham. Sam won the award for best newcomer at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2010, and BBC folk show presenter Mike Harding said that Sam was one of the most gifted acoustic guitarists of his generation.  He has been compared to such luminaries as John Martyn, Roy Harper, and Richard Thompson. This year Sam has taken time out from promoting his own songs to pay tribute to and spread the word about one of his own heroes of acoustic guitar and trad folk songs Nic Jones. Back in late June I reviewed Sam’s album ‘Sam Carter Sings Nic Jones, Live At Celtic Connections’, and when I saw Sam was playing in Corsham I knew I had to go and hear these great songs performed live. My friend Cara called for me at 5.30 and less than 30 minutes later we arrived in Corsham which is a beautiful little town full of period listed buildings where even peacocks wander the streets. Queen Camilla once lived here before her divorce and move to nearby Lacock. Her home Middlewick House was sold to Nick Mason of Pink Floyd fame who still lives there. Another music link to the area is Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studio in the nearby village of Box. 

In the Methuen Arms.

We met our friends Jane and John and spent a very pleasant hour or so in the courtyard of the Methuen Arms which is a splendid pub/restaurant/hotel on the High Street. Eventually time was getting on, and so we made our way to the Pound Arts Centre. This is a wonderful asset to the cultural life of the town and is housed in a restored Victorian school. The small auditorium is perfect for an evening of great folk music. Sam came on stage shortly after 7.30 and treated the audience to a great evening of Nic Jones songs beginning with Barrack Street from the classic Penguin Eggs album. This was followed by Master Kilby from Game Set Match, an album I particularly cherish because Nic signed my copy for me when I had the pleasure of meeting him in 2013. 

Another song from that album performed brilliantly by Sam was Clyde Water. In his career Nic mainly sang traditional songs which he put his own arrangements to, as well as songs written by the likes of Harry Robertson or Paul Metsers. I think that is why I like Ruins By The Shore so much as sung by Sam because it was Nic himself who wrote the lyrics, and I think the words are quite powerful and prophetic. Seven Gypsies is a song with a driving rhythm where Sam proves he is well capable of  replicating Nic’s astonishing ability. I have always felt sorry for those gypsies though, they didn’t deserve to be hanged. Other great songs from the evening included Courting Is A Pleasure, Ploughman Lads, Billy Don’t You Weep For Me, Annan Water, (In lots of Nic’s songs the hero or heroine meets a watery end!), Farewell To The Gold, and Oh Dear, Rue The Day. There may have been others that I have forgotten. Sam saved the best for last with the fabulous Canadee-I-O and Harry Robertson’s two great whaling songs The Humpback Whale and The Little Pot Stove. What a wonderful evening it had been. Thank you to Pound Arts for being a great venue and thank you especially Sam Carter for playing so brilliantly and bringing the great music of Nic Jones to new audiences. There are still a few dates left on Sam's tour, so I urge you to get a ticket if you can. PS, Thank you John Prideaux for the photo of Sam..