Scottish folk singer-songwriter Sam Shackleton has announced a December 2026 headline tour across Scotland, England and Ireland, following a run of sold-out shows earlier this year. The eight-date tour begins in Dublin on 6 December before visiting London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Bristol, then finishing with Shackleton’s two largest Scottish headline shows to date in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Announcing the tour, Shackleton said he was “delighted” to be heading back on the road, describing the run as his first headline show in Ireland, his biggest headline tour of England so far and his largest headline dates at home in Scotland. “These shows are going to be absolutely class and you don’t want to miss them,” he added.
Widely known for viral performances and songs including The Lone Prairie, The Overgate and Rocky Road to Dublin, Shackleton has built a growing audience across the UK and US through his energetic live shows and modern take on traditional folk music.
Also known by his Gaelic moniker Sorley the Bard, Shackleton draws from the connected musical traditions of Scotland, Ireland and the United States. His sound brings together traditional ballad singing with country and blues influences, while punk elements give his performances a rougher edge.
Born in Stirling and raised across Scotland, from the Borders to the Highlands, his music is closely tied to the country’s landscapes and oral traditions. He is also a graduate of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Scottish Studies, where he completed a research master’s degree in Scottish Ethnology specialising in folklore and ethnomusicology. That background carries into both his original material and his interpretations of older songs. One moment, he might quieten a room with a traditional ballad such as The Butcher Boy. The next, he is leading a full crowd singalong with clawhammer banjo and harmonica.
Shackleton has gained major attention through Instagram and TikTok, where his performances have reached a large international audience. His music has also found success on Spotify, including Wild Bill Jones. That momentum has led to support slots with artists including The Mary Wallopers, Pokey LaFarge and Lukas Nelson, while his own headline shows have continued to sell out across the UK.
His performance style has attracted strong praise, with The Scotsman calling him “simply excellent” and Americana UK describing him as “impeccable”. Songlines Magazine praised his “streetwise Scottish brogue”, a quality that has become central to his sound.
Sam Shackleton’s December 2026 UK and Ireland Tour Dates
6 December 2026 – Dublin, Whelan’s
8 December 2026 – London, Bush Hall
9 December 2026 – Manchester, Night & Day
11 December 2026 – Leeds, Hyde Park Book Club
12 December 2026 – Birmingham, Dead Wax
13 December 2026 – Bristol, Exchange
16 December 2026 – Glasgow, Saint Luke’s
18 December 2026 – Edinburgh, The Liquid Room
For CultureCues, it is great to see a Scottish folk artist building this kind of momentum across the UK and Ireland. Shackleton’s mix of traditional ballads and rowdy live energy feels built for packed rooms, and ending the tour with his biggest Scottish headline shows yet feels like the perfect way to round off the year.
Presale begins at 10am on Thursday 23 July, followed by general sale at 10am on Friday 24 July.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.