Sam Grassie Stakes His Claim as a New Voice in Scottish Folk with Debut Album Where Two Hawks Fly

London-based Scottish folk guitarist and singer/songwriter Sam Grassie steps into the spotlight today with the release of his debut album Where Two Hawks Fly — a record already gathering serious momentum across the UK folk landscape.

Arriving via Broadside Hacks Recordings, the album lands at the culmination of a breakthrough headline tour that wraps tomorrow night with a symbolic homecoming show at Glasgow’s Hug & Pint. Multiple sold-out dates along the way have only sharpened the sense that Grassie is emerging as one of the most compelling new voices in contemporary folk.

Built around his intricate, meditative fingerpicking and a vocal that shifts between shadowy restraint and warm resonance, Where Two Hawks Fly reimagines traditional material through a deeply personal lens. With just one original composition, the album instead leans into heritage — drawing almost entirely from songs tied to Scotland, whether in origin, theme, or personal memory.

That sense of rootedness is hard-won. Grassie’s path here has not been straightforward — shaped by time in Glasgow, periods of life-threatening illness and personal hardship, and ultimately a relocation to London in 2022. Since then, he’s embedded himself in the capital’s thriving folk underground, building a reputation through relentless touring across the UK and Europe.

Along the way, he’s shared stages with figures spanning generations — from Martin Carthy and Jacqui McShee to contemporaries like Jim Ghedi and Gwennifer Raymond — and even performed alongside Robert Plant at a Bert Jansch tribute. His own travelling folk club, Les Caravanes, has further cemented his place within a tight-knit but fast-rising scene.

The album’s focus track, “Thurso River Blues,” captures Grassie at his most transportive — a stark, immersive piece that distills his approach: traditional form, reworked with atmosphere and emotional weight.

Early critical response has been emphatic. UNCUT has hailed him as “The New Voice (and guitar) of Scottish Trad Ballads,” while MOJO, The Skinny, and Shindig! have all underscored the album’s depth and assurance. There’s a recurring theme: this is music that feels both ancient and quietly radical.

With further dates already lined up — including festival appearances and high-profile support slots through the summer — Where Two Hawks Fly doesn’t just mark an arrival. It suggests Grassie may be helping reshape the contours of modern folk itself.

Sam Grassie — Where Two Hawks Fly is out now.