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Sam Sumpter

@sam_sumpta

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Generally stoked 🎉
Music biz+media in NYC (& beyond ;))
Words/shows/stuff: @bandsdobk @scene.exchange | Radio: @wfuv | SAMgmt.: @maryshelleyband etc.

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That about sums it up! An honor to take part in Thursday’s @newcolossusfestival panel on the NYC scene and discuss, among other things, my ~raison d’être~: making sure bands know that what they do matters ❤️

Huge thanks (as always) to NC for having me, @actionali for moderating and @keplermatrick + @hellolightfoot + @justozzie21 for being amazing contributors to this convo and to this community.

Woo! Man, I’m just so happy to be here!! taken in New York, New York by @sam_sumpta

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7 months ago

SAMSUMPTER.COM IS OFFICIALLY LIIIIVE 🎉🎉🎉

Since leaving my 9-5 in the fall, it’s been like Eat Pray Love but with a lot less prayer and way more building a website.

But beyond a URL, this is more ways to work together! Specifically, the launch of a new set of offerings thoughtfully designed for independent artists: consulting, storytelling and subscription management (SAMgmt. ;)) services—all made for the moment and custom-fitted to meet your needs.

The truth is, there’s nothing I love more than working with bands! I feel extraordinarily lucky to have found my purpose, and now I’m stoked to take this step and go into music full-time so I can channel all my time, energy, enthusiasm (!!!) and everything I’ve learned over the last 9 years in the industry (a LOT) to amplify the work of the artists I believe in.

If your passion is your music, my passion is supporting it.

Find me online, baby! Let’s turn it up 🤠 taken in Brooklyn, New York by @sam_sumpta

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8 months ago

Honored to be included alongside these up-and-coming authors! (But seriously — so surreal.)

The BdBK book is avail on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookShop, or order through your local bookstore —perhaps @wordbookstores ?! — through IndieBound now!

+ Plz come party with me (AGAIN) with @gethighwaistedd + @nevvatheband + @kissedbyananimal TONIGHT at the BDBK BOOK BASH 2 at #EWEL —

Doors @ 8 // $5 // Link in bio for those sweet sweet deetz ❤️

*~*~*~*~*~*

Posted @withrepost • @wordbookstores Let's have a round of applause for our September bestsellers! What's the best thing you read last month?

#Bestsellers #IndieBookstore #BookStack taken in Brooklyn, New York by @sam_sumpta

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4 years ago

THREE WEEKS TIL LA FETE ! First international @bandsdobk stage and it’s in Rotterdam for @theofficialunofficialrotterdam — a FREE daytime fest during @leftofthedialrotterdam !

Stoked to bring together a mix of big fest faves and Paris pals to rock the stage at Stalles on 23 October!

Come out early, stay not-even-late for @yoodoowrong + @laflemme_band + @apr1l_music + @billybonbonsuperbon + @midscaleband !

This is my third LOTD after taking tequila shots / becoming bffs with a couple Dutch dudes I met down at SXSW, and I’m so honored and super thrilled to be even somewhat a part of this brilliantly and lovingly done music weekend that I love so much!

—> Westersingel 50a, 3014 GV Rotterdam <—

No wristband! No cover! No rsvp! No problem!

Tell your friends, bring your friends! Would love love love to see you there 💙🎉 taken in Rotterdam, Netherlands by @sam_sumpta

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a day ago

A guide to VILNIUS by @shishiband !

Sveiki! On today’s episode of Scene.Exchange, we’re venturing to Vilnius, Lithuania c/o our tuned-in/turned-up tour guides shishi — a trio of self-proclaimed mermaids (specifically of the surf-punk variety) crafting “zero-waste trash music,” who dropped their latest record ‘QUEEN DEYONNA’ this summer.

shishi is three musicians who “sing about how it feels to be living in times when nothing makes sense anymore”… making music that is “perfect for people who care about what’s going on, but don’t really know what’s happening.”

Pretty much the perfect siren song for these times.

While based across an ocean… and a couple seas… these are fortunately the kind of mermaids who often land in all kinds of lands (specifically to shred) and we first became acquainted with the band when they washed up on NYC’s shores and made a splash at @newcolossusfestival back in 2025. They were one of our big faves of the fest that year (especially impressive since we caught them play at like 2pm — the mid-latte, *mostly* pre-margarita portion of the event), and it was love at first listen and obsession at first set.

At the moment, the trio — on Winnipeg-based label @birthdaycakerecords — are making their way across Canada, where they just played @popmontreal and the inaugural @secondsummerfestival in Toronto.

All to say: These mermaids get around — and they’re movin’ on up. Make it a major point to catch them live if you can! And should you end up in their hometown on your own tour, rest assured that shishi has got you covered via a Vilnius guide from Victoria and Teresa.

Find shishi’s tips for underground venues, secret green enclaves and the city’s best Saltibarsciai + a plenty of local music — from egg punk to traditional polyphonic chants — at bandsdobk.substack.com 🧜‍♀️✨🪩

(Photo provided by the band; original vids from new colossus and sxsw 2025) taken in Vilnius, Lithuania by @sam_sumpta

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5 days ago

Maybe it’s because, unlike music, I actually understand how words *work* — can recognize and appreciate when and how they’re wielded well — but I’m generally less star-struck by the rockstars than I am by the people who write about them. And as a perpetual sucker (10 years in!) for NYC, there’s still no sonic setting I’m more stoked on or history I’m more hungry for.

One hell of a soggy Sunday afternoon then at @bkbookfest , sipping my free mini-bottle of glacial cherry Gatorade (interesting sponsor choice but not mad about it!) while listening to @gmcfries , co-author of ‘Please Don’t Kill Me’, and @willhermes , who penned the book above, discuss their experiences documenting the faces and places of New York City’s 70s scene(s). And then, of course, to go to the signing table afterwards and yell at them about how much I loved it.

Inspiring (and surprisingly hydrating!) night in this supremely well-soundtracked city. 10/10. Catch you at a show soon 🖤 taken in Brooklyn, New York by @sam_sumpta

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6 days ago

15-minute shot of @maryshelleyband

(posted on a rainy/windy J-train platform after three cans of rosé but we’re rolling with it) taken in MARKET HOTEL by @sam_sumpta

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8 days ago

As you know, The Official Unofficial isn’t curated by @leftofthedial. Each showcase is put together by its own host — festivals, labels, bands, magazines… or simply people who thought, why not?

So over the next weeks, we’ll introduce the hosts and bands for each event, starting with @bandsdobk, who will bring their showcase to @cafestalles (fka Centraal) on Friday 23 October!!

🅻🅸🅽🅴🆄🅿:
12:15-12:45 @midscaleband
13:00-13:30 @laflemme_band
13:45-14:15 @billybonbonsuperbon
14:30-15:00 @apr1l_music
15:15-15:45 @yoodoowrong

📍- Café Stalles (fka Centraal), Nieuwe Binnenweg 11A, Rotterdam

🎫 - FREE Entry

The Official Unofficial
23 + 24 October, 12:00-16:00
Rotterdam
www.theofficialunofficial.nl by @sam_sumpta

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9 days ago

Available for any/all extraneous percussion opportunities! (You’ll just have to believe I was *mostly* on beat.)

Best of a times at the @diarysounds ‘Spiral’ release, captured on Polaroid by photo dream queen @maddiebarbar.t 💖 taken in Brooklyn, New York by @sam_sumpta

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12 days ago

A guide to CORNWALL by @blind_yeo_band !

There’s no better way to experience a band than live—and certainly no better way to discover one.

With spinning capes and cosmic face paint, brightly hued hoods and what were truly mad hops, ~cosmic folk psych collective~ Blind Yeo — who have kind of a cool-cult vibe… like if the kool-aid was maybe just spiked with mushrooms — delivered x 1000 on the live front during sets we caught at @supersonicclub in Paris and @microfestival in Liege this summer. This was psych from a band that was thoroughly PSYCHED, with Will — Blind Yeo’s frontperson — taking full advantage of an amplified untethered guitar, jumping up and down, spinning in circles, sprinting around the stage and both surfing over and hurtling through the crowd.

Following that summer run, we were secondly stoked when Blind Yeo released their new record ‘Lemoine Point’ — an album through which they’ve managed to capture some of that very magic. (Which you can get a little taste of via their @kexp session, sampled above.)

Open your third-eye (and third-ear?!) to enjoy some Blind Yeo, then head to bandsdobk.substack.com for Will and Charlie of the band’s Cornwall guide — a list featuring magic stones, secondhand books and a good ol’ fashioned brussels sprout fight 🧿❤️🎉 taken in Cornwall, United Kingdom by @sam_sumpta

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12 days ago

More from the @lonesomeandrew x @wfuv session because I loved this one so much! And I love talking to people about their art!!

Find it all via our FUV Live Sessions podcast + with video at wfuv.org 💜 taken in WFUV Public Radio by @sam_sumpta

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16 days ago

NEXT THURSDAY!

It’s a ~FREE~ @bandsdobk x @newcolossusfestival show featuring @maryshelleyband + @parksdeptband + @kirametcalf in Greeley Square Park—

Meet ya in Midtown baby 🥳 taken in New York City by @sam_sumpta

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16 days ago