Sam Friend is a composer, vocalist, guitarist and banjo player known for his musical versatility and knowledge of the jazz, blues and rock canons. Equally versed in a variety of musical traditions, you can find Sam playing in New Orleans with his own band, or doing gigs as a sideman with James Andrews, Glen David Andrews, Treme Brass Band, Soul Brass Band, Red Hot Brass Band, and Steve Walker, among others. Sam also travels each year to play traditional Irish music festivals in Ireland and has been active in hosting Irish sessions in New Orleans. He co-founded the New Orleans Swamp Donkeys in 2012 and toured internationally with the band for several years.

Sam has released two full length albums of original music, “Coming Home” and “Twin”, an EP entitled “Sam Friend and the Hoodoo Sauce,” and several albums with the New Orleans Swamp Donkeys, including “Donkey Business,” “Swamp Donkey,” and “Slightly Concussed.” He has written music for television and film, including the pilot episode of NCIS: New Orleans. 

Segments on his songwriting have been featured on NPR and various jazz stations. His original music has been described as an eclectic mix of styles rooted firmly in the New Orleans musical traditions. Robert Fontenot writes in Offbeat Magazine— “Friend’s voice has the warmth of James Taylor but also the endearingly awkward earnestness of Ben Folds and more than a little of Dr. John’s natural jazz-blues drawl.”