Songwriter Sam Amidon is single-handedly re-defining the boundaries of American folk music. His songs succeed in using grooves and melodies familiar to alt-folk listeners as the backbone that supports all-but-forgotten lyrics from early American folk tunes. Sam’s music gives cultural weight to otherwise outdated, seemingly irrelevant lyrics, bringing new life and accessibility to old American hymns. Not a simple feat, but one that his background uniquely prepares him for. Growing up in a family of folk musicians in Brattleboro, Vermont, Amidon was immersed in a rich musical tradition from a young age. Now based in NY, Amidon, along with his fellow Bedroom Community colleagues, is classing up Brooklyn’s indie scene, one folk tune at a time. With his ambitious new record I See The Sign (Bedroom Community), Amidon furthers his folk revival mission, bringing in guest stars like Beth Orton and Nico Muhlry to help out, as well as adding R. Kelly’s ‘Relief’ to his eclectic Americana catalog. – Read Mike Levine’s Q&A with the artist here.