American folk musicians Jake Xerxes Fussell and Sam Amidon made the first stop of their spring 2026 joint tour at The Palace Theater on Tuesday, April 7. The support of several sponsors from Colgate University, namely the university’s student-operated radio show, WRCU 90.1 FM, the department of English and creative writing and the Arts, Creativity and Innovation Initiative allowed all attendees to enjoy the show free of charge.
Tuesday’s concert marked the second time that Fussell has performed in Hamilton. He previously performed at Flour and Salt in Dec. 2022 as part of his winter tour. Fussell, a singer and guitarist from Durham, N.C., has spent his musical career reinterpreting folksongs of the American South over six albums to date. The struggle to find an empty chair in The Palace Theater indicated that Hamilton and Colgate community members were excited to see him again.
Associate Professor of English Ben Child was one of those eager audience members. He has known Fussell since around 2008. Child and Fussell both lived in Oxford, Miss., and shared mutual friends. They also shared a love for Bob Dylan and old American vernacular music.
“When he started making records, I was immediately interested,” Child said. “I expected [his first album] to be good, but it was even better than expected. [I’ve] just been a friend and fan [up until] now.”
Child met Fussell’s touring partner, Amidon, when the two stayed at his house for the time they remained in town. Amidon, hailing from Vermont but now residing in London, has released seven albums that translate traditional ballads for the contemporary palate, working with drum machines and synthesizers in addition to conventional string instruments.
Child affirmed that Amidon’s music mirrors his interesting personality.
“Sam, as a person, is really engaging. He’s just got a ton of energy,” Child said.
As the opener for the concert, Amidon’s aforementioned vigor radiated from the stage. He brought various pieces to the audience, such as “Big Sky” by Lou Reed and “Maggie,” a reworked composition of “Little Maggie” originally recorded by Grayson and Whitter. He also guided the crowd in singing along to “Time Has Changed Me” by Harkins Frye.
Child encouraged his students to attend the concert. Despite having to register for next semester’s courses in the middle of the event, sophomore Malorie Miner, who takes Child’s American Texts & Contexts course, was one of the handful of students who showed up.
Miner, a listener of heavier rock music, was surprised to find that she enjoyed Amidon’s more stripped-back performance.
“This concert made me wish I hadn’t quit playing the viola. Sam’s violin was genuinely beautiful,” Miner said. “[His] ability to portray such emotion through this instrument was the highlight of the night for me.”
Sam completed his half of the concert with an arrangement of “Wedding Dress,” accompanied by Fussell on the guitar.
Miner’s fellow concert attendee and American Text and Contexts classmate, sophomore Kate Boone, conveyed her assumptions about the concert after initially hearing about the event in class.
“My expectations for the concert were that there was going to be folk music of some kind that reflected early American texts,” Boone said. “The concert was about what I expected in terms of sound and instruments, but was unexpected in terms of lyrics.”
Many of these unexpected lyrics came from Fussell’s half of the set list. Following a brief intermission, Fussell took the stage for his solo portion. He covered “Swing and Turn Jubilee” by Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson, “I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass” by Nick Lowe and “The River St. Johns,” which Fussell previously performed on The Tiny Desk, among other pieces. Many of his choices included heartfelt, sad or even comical lyrics, such as his rendition of “Donkey Riding” by Great Big Sea.
After a quick recharge backstage, Amidon returned to join Fussell for the concert’s finale. The pair performed “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine,” with Fussell contributing vocals and guitar, and Amidon supplying a violin backing. Attendees left the concert revitalized.
Executive Director of The Palace Theater Henry Howard was thoroughly impressed with the outcome.
“The two created an incredibly intimate feel while drawing us into an experience that felt both modern and timeless. Their ability to draw on traditional form while breathing new life and voice into the genre was refreshing,” Howard said.
Child recognized that there has been demand from Colgate students to have more events on and around campus. He emphasized that these types of gatherings are very possible in the town of Hamilton, with the successful outcome of Fussell and Amidon’s concert acting as a prime example.
“This was an exceptional crowd,” Child said. “I think [if] we could do more events, that would be good. I think we have a cool opportunity to make use of spaces on campus — Palace Theater is a great one, [being] close to campus — just to make these events more common.”
Howard backed Child’s statement.
“We’ve been slowly testing and growing an audience here in Hamilton for a few years now,” Howard said. “I believe this show was a unique integration of the various tastes we have represented here in the village. I’m excited to use this show as a model for what works well.”
