The Encore: RED SAMMY

June 12th, 2024 by Liz Kosik

by Liz Kosik ’25

WLOY presents “The Encore,” where we spotlight our favorite bands that have visited the station. This week: RED SAMMY

Adam Trice, an American writer, singer, and songwriter from Baltimore, MD, began performing under the name RED SAMMY in 2007. Initially performing solo and in duos, he has since collaborated with various musicians, ranging from full rock bands to string instruments. His songwriting uniquely blends rock, folk, country, indie, and blues, to create emotional and poetic pieces of work. 

The current lineup of RED SAMMY includes Greg Humphreys on bass and guitar, Bruce Elliott on electric and slide guitar, Kenneth Noble on drums, and Adam Trice on acoustic and electric guitars and vocals. RED SAMMY has shared the stage with a range of artists, including Deer Tick, Mark Kozelek of Red House Painters, and Phosphorescent. These are only some of the amazing artists RED SAMMY has collaborated with over the years and I’m sure they’re about to add some more to the list with their summer performance’s approaching. 

Trice reveals the inspiration behind RED SAMMY and the band name’s connection to Flannery O’Connor’s 1955 short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” He continues to build RED SAMMY’s brand, drawing further inspiration from artists such as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Alejandro Escovedo, and Lucinda Williams. RED SAMMY has performed at various festivals, such as the Arts and Drafts Festival with Guinness Brewing in 2021 and 2022, the Music City Maryland Festival in 2021, and Brilliant Baltimore in 2019. Their music has been featured on adult alternative, college, and independent radio stations across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, with a particular focus on their homeland, Maryland. 

RED SAMMY has released ten studio albums, with their latest, “Holy Fluorescent Light,” released out in February 2024. They have made numerous appearances on WLOY, including on-campus Starbuck’s concerts, in-studio live performances, headlining Honfest stages, and quarantine takeover interviews. WLOY has enjoyed a close relationship with RED SAMMY for over a decade, considering themselves among the band’s most dedicated supporters. Check out their upcoming performance dates here!