Samantha Fish

American Blues-Rock Guitarist, Singer-Songwriter & Roots Innovator

Biography & Career Overview

Born January 30, 1989, in Kansas City, Missouri, Samantha Fish is a Grammy-nominated guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer widely celebrated as one of the most dynamic forces in contemporary blues, roots rock, and Americana. Originally starting on drums at age 15 before switching to electric guitar, she honed her craft jamming at Kansas City's famed Knuckleheads Saloon.

Fish broke onto the international scene in 2011 with Ruf Records' Girls with Guitars project and her solo debut Runaway, earning the Blues Music Award for Best New Artist. Over the following decade, she pushed the boundaries of modern blues by incorporating elements of soul, punk rock, alternative pop, and hill country blues across acclaimed records produced by Luther Dickinson, Mike Zito, and Bobby Harlow. Her collaborative powerhouse record with Jesse Dayton, Death Wish Blues (2023), earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album, a feat she matched with her critically lauded studio release Paper Doll (2025).

Musical Instrumentation & Technical Signature

Fiery Slide Guitar & Hill Country Rhythms: A master of raw, delta and North Mississippi hill country slide guitar, executing aggressive glass slide runs in open tunings (Open G, Drop D) with stinging attack and heavy percussive groove.
Expressive Lead Phrasing & Sustained Bends: Known for wide vocal-like bends, biting pentatonic solos, and high-energy overdrive runs that channel classic rock grit (Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix) alongside Chicago blues phrasing.
Dynamic Vocal Range: Possesses a versatile vocal style that ranges from smoky, intimate soul ballads and sultry blues cleans to raspy, full-throttle rock 'n' roll belts and screams.
Signature Instruments & Gear: Famed for her customized Stogie Box Blues 4-string cigar box guitars, white Gibson SG Standards, Delaney "Fishcaster" signature models, Fender Jaguars, and Gibson Custom Shop ES-335s, amplified through custom Category 5 (Andrew / Camille) tube amps and Fender Hot Rod DeVilles with pedalboard staples like the Analog Man King of Tone and JHS fuzzes.

Band Ensembles & Key Collaborations

Samantha Fish Touring Band: Her core touring powerhouse featuring dynamic rhythm sections, keyboards, and horns, known for relentless international touring schedules and high-octane live stage chemistry.
Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton: High-voltage collaborative partnership produced by Jon Spencer, yielding the Grammy-nominated Death Wish Blues and explosive international co-headlining tours.
Girls with Guitars (Ruf Records): Early-career all-female blues-rock touring and recording package featuring Cassie Taylor, Dani Wilde, and Fish.
All-Star Festival Appearances: Featured guest and performer on major bills including Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival and the Experience Hendrix Tour alongside Slash, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Christone "Kingfish" Ingram.

Selected Discography & Releases

Solo Studio Albums

Runaway (2011): Her solo debut album on Ruf Records (produced by Mike Zito), which secured her the 2012 Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut.
Black Wind Howlin' (2013): A hard-rocking blues breakthrough featuring searing slide solos and driving grooves on cuts like "Miles to Go" and "Sucker Born."
Wild Heart (2015): Produced by Luther Dickinson, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart and highlighting southern roots and acoustic textures.
Chills & Fever (2017): A soul, punk, and vintage R&B reimagining recorded in Detroit with members of The Detroit Cobras and produced by Bobby Harlow.
Belle of the West (2017): A return to North Mississippi hill country roots, featuring acoustic-driven folk, Americana, and blues storytelling.
Kill or Be Kind (2019): Her Rounder Records debut tracked at Royal Studios in Memphis, featuring punchy brass arrangements and modern soul-blues hooks.
Faster (2021): Produced by Martin Kierszenbaum, blending aggressive guitar riffs with pop-rock and modern alt-rock sensibilities.
Paper Doll (2025): Her ninth solo studio album, produced by Bobby Harlow and recorded with her road-tested live band; earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

Collaborative & Live Albums

Death Wish Blues (with Jesse Dayton) (2023): Critically acclaimed alt-blues collaboration produced by Jon Spencer, nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Girls with Guitars (2011) / Girls with Guitars Live (2012): Collaborative studio and live documents alongside Cassie Taylor and Dani Wilde.
Paper Doll Live (2026): An expansive live concert document capturing the full-throttle stage energy, extended slide jams, and dynamic arrangements of the Paper Doll world tour.

SAMANTHA FISH🔥"Black Wind Howlin'" 4k60@ Heights Theater Houston Texas 🇸🇴🇵🇱 9_13_2026