Samuel Acus

Sam Acus has been playing music for his entire life. He first picked up the mandolin at age 5, fiddle at 6, and a whole host of instruments since then, including guitar, bass, viola, keyboards, etc. He enjoys music from all genres, most notably bluegrass, jazz, and rock.

Sam is fortunate to count Will Patton and Jacob Jolliff as his core mandolin teachers, and also to have studied with Tom Cleary (jazz), Jamie Masefield (mandolin), David Gusakov (violin), Caleb Pillsbury (voice) and many many others.  

Sam calls Vermont his home, but travels frequently for music. When it comes to performing, bluegrass was Sam’s first love, and his performance experience in that genre is extensive. He has shared the stage with Rhonda Vincent, the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, the Gibson Brothers, and The Jacob Jolliff Band. Sam is the mandolin player for New England bluegrass band Breakin’ Strings. 

Sam also plays a lot of jazz and rock. His favorite artists for mainstream jazz include Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Django Reinhardt, and Stephan Grapelli. He also loves crossover, including Chris Thile, and Bela Fleck. Sam’s rock influences include groups ranging from The Beatles to My Chemical Romance to Big Thief to Invisíble and everywhere in between. He plays mandolin and guitar for VT soul/R&B band MINC. 

Sam enjoys performing at venues such as Carnegie Hall (NY), Club Passim (MA), Zenbarn (VT), One Longfellow Square (ME), Cumston Hall (ME), Higher Ground (VT), and the main stages of Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival (ME), Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival (NY), the Crooked River Gathering (ME), Ossipee Valley Music Festival (ME), Beaver Island Music Festival (MI), and many other festivals.