Jake Xerxes Fussell and Sam Amidon perform together on stage (photos by Mark DiOrio)
WRCU 90.1 FM and the Department of English and Creative Writing hosted a concert headlined by contemporary folk musicians Jake Xerxes Fussell and Sam Amidon on Tuesday, April 7. The event was held in the Palace Theater, Hamilton’s historic arts center, and was open to all students and community members.
Fussell, who hails from North Carolina, and Amidon, originally from Vermont and now based in London, are currently touring together across North America. Associate Professor of English Ben Child, co-founder of the Live Music Collective and a friend of Fussell’s, coordinated the event.
“[The] last time I saw Jake play was to a capacity-only crowd in London — they were turning people away at the door,” Child says. “I’m glad our community had the chance to catch him at the Palace Theater.”
Child worked with Maxwell Walker ’26, the general manager of WRCU-FM and Child’s student point of contact, to arrange the event. Walker is a familiar face in the Colgate and Hamilton music scene and was excited to bring Fussell back after experiencing a concert himself during his first year on campus. Walker also acknowledged the talent of Amidon, stating that both musicians promised a formidable show.
“He and Sam Amidon are impressive examples of a very specific and important tradition of folk music,” Walker says.
Both artists reimagine the non-romantic, relatable, and real narratives of folk music that often depict the grittiness of working-class life. The audience was captivated by Fussell’s modern yet authentic interpretation of traditional folk music elements, while Amidon’s incorporation of unorthodox musical elements in his melodies provided the perfect environment for listeners new to folk music to explore the genre.
“I am always excited when WRCU is able to work on a concert that brings in artists from genres to which students may not have been exposed,” Walker says. “An important part of continuing to develop the exciting improvements in Colgate’s music scene is to engage with the broader Hamilton musical community, so this event was a great way to begin strengthening those connections.”
Ama Nkrumah ’27 reflected on how experiencing Fussell and Amidon’s passion for their craft reminded her of how much she loves music. “It is always a joy to see people display their talents, and both artists embody pure talent,” she says. “By the end of the set, I ended up buying one of Sam Amidon’s CDs to add to my extensive CD collection.”
