Sam Ness

TONIGHT in Rhinelander and tomorrow in Appleton! Tonight I’ll be playing a party show of all cover songs at Bucketheads Sports Bar starting at 9pm. Tomorrow’s show at Gibson Music Hall will be something really special!

Mile of Music and Gibson are presenting a free matinee on Saturday at 2 pm featuring myself and Kurt Gunn and David Paul Martin as part of a Writers’ Round. These Bluebird Cafe-style story and song sessions are particularly special at Gibson’s front stage — and did I mention it’s a holiday gift of free music?! You can sign up for a free ticket for yourself and guests at gibsonmusichall dot com. Be sure to reserve your ticket!

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I always look forward to coming back home and playing for the same elementary school that I went to! We did some sing alongs and chatted about what my life as a musician looks like. Until next year, little friends! ❄️🌲🎶🎅🏽

Towards the end of a party show where I’m playing no original music, someone hands me this note. The world froze for a moment. Sometimes I forget that I even have original music when I play that type of show, because I keep those things in a very different part of my brain; somewhere a bit more gentle, more sincere. The version of me that exists in my bar gig is more focused on getting the crowd to uncross their arms and forget about the day’s troubles for a few hours. When I saw this note, it opened that part of my mind and I felt a warmth spread through my thoughts (alongside the warmth from the ). Shortly after, I watched a young man with diamond earrings and gold chains steal a $20 from my tip jar. At the same time I watched a clearly overdue reunion of two people, strangers to me, as they laughed and danced like fools. Watching them made me smile. Then again I’m drawn back to a note on a napkin. The road is a strange and intense place. I’m grateful to know that feeling.

Hardware Upgrade ✨

Chaotic. Beautiful. Messy. Home.
I’ve officially been in my home for 365 days as of today. This has been a year of so much growth for me. New friends, a new community, new roots. I’ve been told so many times the last few months I seem to have a “newfound confidence”, or a new “peace” that is shining through me. I feel it. I feel like I can finally exhale after so many years of living a life of passing through. When I open my eyes in the morning, I think “what can I accomplish today?” Instead of “where can I find coffee in this town? Did I get a ticket overnight? How many more days until I’m staying with a friend that has a washing machine?”. Obviously I still love the road. I have amazing things planned for the next year, and most of those involve me leaving this cozy nest I’ve built, but God it’s been good to have this place and find myself again. I feel my battery charging by the day, and all of that energy will find its way to you when I see you out on the road ❤️ 🚐 🎶
PS. Can a person have too many lamps? My friends seem to think so… I disagree 💡

Out here drinking hot cider, helping get trees up, and spreading all the Christmas cheer 🌲🎅 Hope you’ve all been good this year!

Blown away! My new friend Melodie and I started a concert series here in Fennimore, WI, and the community rallied behind it in a way I never could have expected! It’s been an honor to introduce this community of music lovers to my friends I’ve met out on the road. What’s crazier, our concert series just won the “Organization of the Year” for the City of Fennimore! Thanks for all the love, gang 🎶❤️

There’s so much around me to be thankful for right now. If you’re reading this, thanks for being part of that ❤️

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