EUROPE CONNECTION

This biography of Sam Jones is in a constant state of construction & acts to piece together a detailed & rich history of this British singer-songwriter, guitarist, recording artist & producer. Most importantly including his recent history & activities. 

The following text is a combination of many half-written pieces & attempts. It’s not supposed to be pretentious, flashy or boasty & the name dropping is purly as a point of interest to anyone reading it. I’m fully aware that I am not a famous or even ‘know’ artist but, I do have lots of small achievements. All of these together form a body of work & an interesting story. Please enjoy reading it, it’s as interesting as anyone elses, we all have one!

INRODUCTION:

Primarily a solo artist and solo performer, he has also performed as a band frontman under several names since 1999. His best-known bands include The Artists Rifles (2001–2005), the London-based studio project The Berlin Lights (2010–2014) & currently Angry Town (2017–2018 & 2022–present). Since February 2020 he has lived in the seaside town of Llandudno in North Wales. He also spends several months a year living in the medieval UNESCO town of Torun in Poland. He is no stranger to travelling long distances to perform shows. At the age of 45, he continues to book shows, write new songs & release old & new material. He is known for his slide guitar playing & distinctive crooner-to-shout vocal style. Often working as a multi-instrumentalist, especially during the composition/demo phase (usually playing drums & sometimes adding bass or piano). He has recorded many tracks over several decades. He worked as a film extra for 5 years & a guitar teacher for 12 years. For years he lived a gypsy-like travelling lifestyle visiting the length & breathes of Western/Central Europe playing impressionable one-man shows. Sam is somewhat of an anomaly in the music world, rejecting many traditional expectations and formalities. He is neither a signed or typical DIY artist. 

NEW PROJECTS:

SAMUEL THOMAS JONES ‘BURNING’ EP:

Featuring 4 new songs ‘ Burning’, ‘Outsider’, ‘Monochrome’

ANGRY TOWN ‘MORE AMMUNITION’ ALBUM

In 2021 he recorded ‘Rainstorm’ with Alan Mathews (4Q) motivated by the Covid restrictions & draconian measures. The track was another example of his ‘Grunge-Blues’ musical style, a self-coined term to describe this side of his playing in which he often returns to, this time with the absence of any slide guitar.

PLAYING FAMOUS VENUES:

Hope & Anchor, Dublin Castle, Bull & Gate, The Garage, 12 Bar Club

IMAGE:.

He has developed a simple, consistent style over the years, inspired by his offstage look from the past, refined & developed for the stage and photoshoots. His signature is almost always pitch black, starting with a plain black short or long-sleved t-shirt, long before it became a trend amongst musicians. He atributes this as being influenced by the Marines and The Hamburg-era Beatles. He’s also known for his black suede desert boots & wearing leather shoelaces around his neck and wrist. Second-hand & sometimes custom-patched, gray-black slim jeans sometimes self-cropped. Sam often modifies his clothes, like cutting the collar off denim jackets to create a frayed, collarless edge. Leopard print or plain black shirts are also a choice, leopard print is often a theme adopted into his musical artwork. More recently, he’s added a touch of class with pieces like a charcoal suit blazer and a Regency-style cravat, inspired by musicians like Jeff Beck. Plain & a fitted Cafe racer leather jackets, leather gloves, black Wayfarer or tinted sunglasses, and army surplus pieces. Sam’s style is a mix of influences from Crispian Mills to Sting all blending into his own unique aesthetic.

RELOCATION TO NORTH WALES & CONTINUING CONNECTION WITH POLAND (2019–PRESENT):

Since late 2019, he has split his time between the coastal town Llandudno in North Wales (where he spends most of the year) and Toruń in the Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland, where he resides for several months annually and holds resident status which he obtained in 2021. In 2020 he produced a music video shot in & around the UNESCO town for the acoustic ballad ‘Bulletproof‘ shortly before relocating to the UK in November 2019. In September 2021 he embarked on his first tour of Poland, a seven-date tour of the North & South. Embarking on a second Tour of Poland in April 2022 which was cut short by Covid. These were his first ticketed headling shows & first ticket tours anywhere.

RELOCATION TO POLAND (2016–2019):

His debut foreign show was in Poland at Cafe Mięsna in Poznań in 2007. Nearly a decade later, during his first and second European tours in 2016, he returned to Poland. In December 2016 after meeting his Polish fiancée on the second tour he chose to relocate there permanently, gaining some notoriety as a British curiosity in the region of Toruń. Sam released the singles ‘Hell’s Bank Note’ & ‘The Walker’ simultaneously. The recording session took place at MAP Studio in London on 13th December 2016 & feature Leo Georgiou on drums just one day before his departure for Poland. The 2 ‘slide guitar’ singles were released one month later on 13th January to coincide with the first gig of 2017 supporting Oil Stains in their native Poland. 

RELOCATION TO LONDON (2004–2016)

After living in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, for 3 years he spent the last few months of 2003 living in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire before moving to London for over 12 years. spending his final chapter living in Kentish Town, Camden. During his first year living in London he formed a new Brighton-based version of The Artists Rifles, recording with one of his all-time guitar heroes Brian James. After the breakup of The Artists Rifles in 2005 he went on to play guitar in Monkish & front various versions of his solo band before forming The Berlin Lights recording project.

I was in limbo after leaving Scarborough a second time, living there for another 5 months. I eventually took up an offer from a friend from my collage days in Wrexham who was living in Hemel Hempstead & jumped at the chance. After several months I decided to make the jump to London. I was sat in a pub going through ‘Loot’, phoning up landlords advertising rooms. I came to the very last advert who happened to be an ex-music journalist called Mike Nicholls.

SAMUEL THOMAS JONES MONIKER (2023-PRESENT):

Since September 2023 he has adopted the moniker ‘Samuel Thomas Jones‘ for a series of acoustic & slide guitar shows, demoing & showcasing new compositions ‘Doggerland’, ‘Spinning Jenny‘ & ‘Wishing Well’ published online with accompanying artwork. In January 2024 he used the name for an appearance at London’s iconic venue The Water Rats. In March 2024 a ‘Samuel Thomas Jones’ performance was livestreamed from Pieśniarze, Wrocław Poland. 

This is in fact my real name which I switched to using in late 2023. This is the name I do any new solo activity under; including songwriting, recording & new social media presence. I chose carefully when to use the name for live performances but normally it means NO covers or very few covers, acoustic &/or slide guitar only shows. This switch over has been very gradual & when discussing my music as a whole I revert to ‘Sam Jones’. I also decided to continue using the ‘old’ name for my UK pubs shows during 2024 & 2025 (where I play more covers) & for my work in progress ‘Covered’ album. You will find a page devoted to ‘Samuel Thomas Jones’ via my website.

ANGRY TOWN (2022-PRESENT):

Angry Town is a name now used to describe appearances both on record and live with a band. Angry Town returned to the stage in 2022 as a 2-piece outfit supporting Sham 69 – Tim V in Poland. An official album entitled ‘No Second Chance‘ was released on CD in March 2023 & remastered by Tim Turan for all digital platforms release in October of the same year. In September 2023 as part of an Angry Town ‘Campaign Day’, ‘Live at Lizard King’ (alongside other publications) was premiered on YouTube for the first time in its near entirety. The concert was also screened at Muzyczny Kram record shop in Toruń to coincide as a tribute to filmmaker Wojciech Budny.

SUPPORTING FAMOUS ACTS (2001-PRESENT):

As the frontman of his various power-trio carnations or as a solo performer, he’s played support for several well-known acts including UK Subs, Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson), The Coral & Polish bands Kobranocka and Koniec Świata. 

SOLO PERFORMANCES IN MAINLAND EUROPE (2007, 2012 & 2014-PRESENT):

He has embarked on four self-booked, self-financed & self-promoted solo European tours since April 2016, playing numerous mini-tours across the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Poland. He played his fourth & most recent European tour in June 2022. Performing in France, Italy, Czech Republic & Germany adding an additional date at the opening of Muzyczny Kram record shop in Toruń, Poland in July. He’s even toured the Isle of Man. He has performed in many of London’s historical venues and major European cities including Liverpool, Berlin, Prague, Kraków, Tilburg, Dublin, Paris, and Brussels. His gigs have also taken him to unique locations like the restored ghost town of Bussana Vecchia in Italy. He ended 2024 with a successful debut tour of the Netherlands. Sam returned to Netherlands for 2 solo shows during the countries ‘Koningsdag’ or ‘King’s Day’ celebrations in April 2025. Café gigs in Belgium at places like Wiel’s Renard Noir in Brussels were integral in his story, leading onto full European tours. 

RECENT ENGLAND & WALES PUB SHOWS (2022 & 2024-PRESENT):

After a yearlong experiment playing weekend shows at pubs in England & Wales as his bread & butter. His current shows are backed by a work in progress YouTube album entitled ‘Covered’, which features songs by various artists including Status Quo, Billy Idol & Ramones. His covers of Depeche Mode‘s ‘Personal Jesus’ & Nancy Sinatra‘s ‘These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ have somewhat become his own after years of performing them. On return to the UK (after a 10 week stretch in Poland) Sam played at The People’s Republic in Hull; a venue co-ran by Dave Hemingway of The Housemartins & The Beautiful South. Sam will also be starting a ‘temporary residency’ at The Star Inn, Whitby where he played for the first time in November 2024. In February 2022 he was featured in a live broadcast from Ebenezer’s in Crewe, England. 

SONGWRITING & RECORDING (1994-PRESENT):

A cross-section of his recorded works make up his live solo set. Sam has written over 100 songs, much of which he has released through his ‘Retrospective’ album series. The album main acts as an introduction to his songwriting with some notable contributors. Comprehensive track by track details act as an online inlay card & are frequently updated on his website. 

‘RETROSPECTIVE’ BANDCAMP ALBUM & EP SERIES:

On Bandcamp the album is presented as a quadrilogy with 3 supplementary editions ‘Retrospective: bonus tracks’ ‘Retrospective: sketchbook’ & Retrospective: acoustic sketchbook’ comprising a total of over 80 separate recordings. The mothership album features contributions from Charlie Harper of UK Subs, Brian James of The Damned, PJ of Anti-Nowhere League, Malcolm Joseph of Grace Jones band, Robbie Kelman of The Dripping Lips, Richard Marcangelo of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band & Tony Piper of Vice Squad.

STAND OUT SONGS:

Some of his most recognisable songs like ‘Hit The Floor’, ‘Fire In The Rain’, ‘When The Howling Wind Comes Back’, Hell’s Bank Note’ & ‘Woman Gone’ have existed for many years.

TV, RADIO & PODCASTS (2017-PRESENT):

An appearance on WWk’s Our Favorate Shop Sessions for Made In Liverpool TV & interviews/live sessions on Radio R & Radio R (89.2, Mokrá-Horákov) in Czech Republic, Radio Benelux & Radio 68 in Belgium & Radio Sfera UMK & Radio PIK in Poland are favourable milestones in his career. In April 2020 he was featured on The Paranoid Sqirrel podcast. 

YAMAHA GUITARS , VOX AMPLIFIERS & OTHER EQUIPMENT:

He is known for using Yamaha electric guitars in particular the 120H & 112VMX Pacifica rage. He is often seen playing a customised RGX 121D which he has owned since the age of 15. The guitar was part-restored by Philippe Dubreuille who is noted for restoring Noel Gallahger’s Gibson ES-355 guitar which was damaged during the argument that split Oasis. This guitar is mainly used as a slide guitar & for it’s looks & is often substituted with a similer ERG 121C model. Sam nearly always uses a small Vox amplifier.

CAMOUFLAGE RECORDS & LIMITED EDITION CDS (2016-PRESENT): 

He set up his own booking agency/record label Camouflage Booking/Camouflage Records & sells limited edition CDs & USB sticks online or after shows. A series of bootleg-style limited edition CD live albums have been produced each with additional demo/studio bonus tracks. To date there have been 4 CD live albums; ‘Live In Europe 2015-2016’ (2016), ‘Live In Poland’ (2017), ‘Million Dollar Baby: Live at The Hatch Bar, Liverpool 2017’ (2018) & ‘Live In Poland II’ (2022).

CAMOUFLAGE BOOKING (2016-PRESENT)

RE-USE OF ANGRY TOWN NAME (2020):

During lockdown 2020 he retrospectivly released an EP ‘Live In Kraków EP’ as well as two singles ‘Sister Of The Storm’ & Guns Of A Revolution’ with accompanying promo videos under the Angry Town banner, both singles featured a politically motivated promotional video premiered on YouTube.

FORMATION & ESTABLISHMENT OF ANGRY TOWN (2017-2018):

During 2017, 2018 & 2022 he fronted Polish Mod-Punk band Angry Town. Angry Town is the only known example of a British frontman leading a new Poland-based band during the country’s EU membership period. The group evolved both as a live and studio project, giving Jones the opportunity to revisit his earlier compositions while exploring new creative directions. possibly the only Polish band led by a British singer. The name of the band refers to Gniewkowo, where the original line-up met for the first time during a solo concert of Jones. Sam’s musical journey through several power-trios led to the creation of the band. Their sound blends energetic punk with melodic hooks and 1990s grunge influences, creating a raw, aggressive pop-punk edge. The band’s visual style draws inspiration from 1960s and 1970s fashion, often compared to the ‘café racer’ aesthetic. Although often associated with punk, they deliberately avoid being confined to one genre, initially describing themselves as ‘Mod-Punk’ to challenge stereotypes.

SOLO BANDS / POWER TRIOS (1999-2016):

He performed live as Sam Jones & The Artists Rifles (1999–2001). The name was also used for his debut solo album Shoot To Kill (2000), which featured two promotional videos for the songs “The Witching Hour” and “Sister.” The album also includes three tracks recorded live at Telford’s Warehouse in Chester, including the song “Did I Tell You?”, performed at his first solo public appearance in 1998 at the age of 18. The remaining tracks were compiled from recordings made in Wrexham, York, and Hawarden. Under the shortened name The Artists Rifles (2001-2005), he released two more prototype-style albums: Dark Arches (2002) and Ghost Of Eve (2003); the latter also had promotional videos for “The Way She Is” and “Aspect Of Love.” These short-length albums were significant in that some tracks were later re-recorded for a new Brighton-based version of The Artists Rifles, produced by Brian James. With each project name also used for releases and online presence during its active period. Between these three major projects and over various years, he used the name Sam Jones for different duo/band performances or music releases. After a long break from live shows, a new 2/3 Italian London-based power trio, Sam Jones Band (2015), unintentionally became the precursor to Angry Town about 18 months later. 

DUOS:

He has performed many shows as a duo rather than in the standard power-trio format, playing both electric and acoustic material. Notable duos include Sam Jones & Krzysztof Pilarski (2017) and Sam Jones & Ged Lynn (2017).

GUITARIST FOR OTHERS (1997-2014):

In addition to his own bands, he played guitar in Curl (1997–1998), Monkish (2005–2006), Charlie & The Truckers (2007), and The Kinky Beats (2014). As a guitarist role, he formed a few short-lived duos with female vocalists such as Belinda De Bruyn in Brussels.

ART DIRECTION, PHOTOGRAPHY & MUSIC VIDEOS:

WORKING WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS:

The Witching Hour, Sister, The Way She Is , Aspect Of Love

STAND OUT TRACKS:

MUSICAL STYLE:

PRODUCING:

PRODUCERS:

MUSICAL COLLABORATIONS WITH RENOWNED ARTISTS (2004-2018):

He’s worked with several established musicians such as Brian James (The Damned) & PJ (Anti-Nowhere League), he even appeared on a track with Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers in ‘Stranger Things‘). In 2006 Sam was sat opposite Charlie Harper (UK Subs) on a London Underground ‘Tube’ train, Sam introduced himself & kept in touch, later recording a cover of the Hank Williams classic ‘Move It On Over’ in 2007, performing an acoustic set at Charlie Harper’s 65th birthday party in 2009 & with Charlie featuring on The Berlin Lights track ‘Hit The Floor’ in 2011 with an exclusive mix released on 7″ vinyl by Time & Matter Recordings in 2014. In January 2019 whilst living in Poland Sam reunited with Charlie backstage after a UK Subs concert at Stary Klasztor in Wrocław. Ged Lynn (The Stairs), has acted as Angry Town’s forth member featuring on 3 studio tracks ‘Sister of The Storm’, No Tears For Me’ & Pink Floyd’s ‘Arnold Layne’. In 2017 before Angry Town had played their debut show they appeared together as ‘Sam Jones & Ged Lynn‘ at The Hatch Bar on Liverpool’s Mathew Street, wrapping up a Sam Jones European tour.

RECOGNITION:

He’s already gained the respect of many well-known industry insiders such as journalist John Robb when Angry Town performed their cover of The Damned’s ‘New Rose’ supporting The Membranes in Poland.