Performing together as a duo for more than 20 years now, Melbourne-based Sam + Sam – better known as Sam Sam But Different – live and breathe music and performance.
When the global pandemic rocked the world back in 2020, Sam + Sam (Sam Ludeman and Sam Russell) responded the only way they knew how, pivoting from the stage to bring high-quality live-streamed entertainment into lounge rooms around the world.
Striking a chord with viewers around the world, their live stream attracted hundreds of thousands of people tuning in each week, eventually drawing an audience of more than five million, with each new episode being viewed by between 20,000 and 50,000 people.
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Now, two years and millions of new fans later, the duo have released their debut album Evolve.
Showcasing a blend of pop-rock with contemporary country, the album delivers a sound that is both familiar and fresh, thanks in large part to the dynamic vocal interplay between Ludeman and Russell.
Since its December release, the album has received critical acclaim, reaching #1 on the iTunes alternative album chart, #3 on the ARIA Country Album chart, and #9 on the AIR Indie Album chart. This success is not new for the duo, as their first three song releases prior to the album release each reached the #1 spot in their respective iTunes genres, with their second release, My Friend, reaching #1 overall in the iTunes Charts in Australia.
Spanning 11 notable tracks, Evolve reveals the extent of the pair’s collective experience, with Ludeman having been a finalist on The Voice in 2012, appearing in the films City Homicide and Spirit of the Game, and performing in touring productions of Grease, Fame, and Xanadu. Russell collaborated with Macklemore to promote Jam for iPhone, a tool he created that employs artificial intelligence to assist individuals in songwriting.
Having shared the stage with the likes of Birds of Tokyo, Jon Stevens, The Veronicas, Vanessa Amorosi, Thirsty Merc and Olivia Newton-John, Sam + Sam are now bringing their vibrant, body-moving show live to stages across regional Victoria, playing shows in Panton Hill, Ballarat, Geelong, Echuca and Bendigo in February and March.
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Catch Sam + Sam at Ballarat Turf Club on 18 February, Sphinx Hotel in Geelong on 4 March, Shamrock Hotel in Echuca on 9 March and Bendigo Racecourse on 25 March. Tickets via www.samsam.live
