The Hut People

I have been playing for longer than I care to remember. I started out tapping my knees and moved onto my chest and cheeks until I could afford to buy myself a pair of bongos. It was much less painful. I am still collecting percussion and must have over 400 different types of instruments. Virtually every tune we play has a particular sound or rhythm to it. I am self taught and have learnt by creatively borrowing things I have heard. I live in Hull, having moved here in 1995 after joining The Beautiful South as a session musician. I was very lucky to have travelled the world with them. I was also very lucky to have played with the late Nina Simone. On my percussive journey I have played most genres of music and all these different styles inform and influence the sound of The Hut People. My musical beginnings were jazz and world music and now Sam has opened up my aural world to planet Folk where I feel very much at home. It's so exciting discovering all this great home based music. 

Please check our www.myspace.com/thehutpeople for further information.

Sam Pirt plays the piano accordion, comes from Goole in Yorkshire, and smiles a lot. Sams early bands included Soup Dragon and The Barleycorn Band where he first played with Ian. He met guitarist David Wood (of CrossCurrent) at Folkworks, and they formed their duo AAAAG in 1996. 

Sam was a member of the first English group to go to the Ethno Folk Camp in 1996, as a result of which he developed a huge interest in music from all around the world. Having been back to Ethno with 422 in 2000 and 2001, Sam was asked to be an Artistic Leader at Ethno the following three years. In 2004 Sam realized his dream of founding his own version of Ethno in England, which has since gone from strength to strength.

422 is another band which Sam plays in and they first came together in 1999 after winning the the BBC Radio Two Young Folk award. Since that time they have toured Sweden, Germany and played at Tonder, Cambridge and Sidmouth Festival. They have also released three albums on Fellside records.

At some point  along the way Sam bumped into Gary (At a bonfire acually) they were both working on a project together.  A few years later they at last managed to have a jam and so The Hut People were born.  They have since gone from strength to strength, being voted number 1 in Musicports Festival poll two years running, recording an album with Fellside records and generally going down well where ever they play.

Sam has also spent some time in Kenya where he learned traditional songs and dances from the Sengwer Tribe. Sam was given a tribal name Kiprop (bringer of rain). Sam was taught to play the Pugan (African Guitar) by Samwell Pargetuni and through these lessons has gained a good friend as well as a deep understanding of the music of the Sengwer Tribe.

I also have my own myspace site and website where you can find out even more about me!