"Sam is one of the easiest people I have ever worked with on contract. As band leader, I'm very picky about who I have. He is a complete professional, nothing is a problem to learn and he tackles everything with a positive attitude. He gets stuck into every task, at rehearsals 10 minutes early (as with performances) and knows a lot about sound and video. He has amazing musicianship, can put his own twist on things when needed and his playing is as good on acoustic as on electric. He has a great earthy voice too. It's been a real pleasure having him in the band and we will miss him greatly.
Sam would be a great addition to any act/band, do not think twice about hiring him!"
Josephine Ellul - Vocalist/Band Leader/Manager of "The Noise"
If you are looking for a drummer/guitarist/vocalist/sound technician and all round asset to your band or company, I can whole-heartedly recommend Sam as your immediate selection.
Sam joined ‘The Choice’ band in January 2020, to dep as our drummer for a ship contract based on Aurora, one of P&O’s fleet of ships. From the moment Sam arrived, it was clear he had done his homework in terms of the music in our set-list and what we expected from a band member. We have an extensive list of songs in all different genres, from rock, pop, standards and ballroom, which for a newcomer can be quite daunting as there are literally hundreds of songs to learn, with many changes and differences to the originals to remember.
Sam had not only put in the time at home to rehearse the songs ready to go, but had also committed them to memory - quite a feat. It was also much appreciated since most people in reality would not invest this much time and effort for a singular contract, but Sam is incredibly diligent.
Sam was able to cover all of our genres with ease, fitting in seamlessly. Over time, Sam also helped us with any sound issues we had, utilising his skills as a trained sound engineer. His energy, enthusiasm and sense of humour also helped us through some of the more challenging times a band can face aboard a ship. Sam is not only a very talented musician, but also a great band mate and a positive person to have around. Sam was a pleasure to work with and I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.
Mandy Reilly - Lead Vocalist in ‘The Choice’
"Sam is a joy to work with. An exceptionally skilled musician. Professional, upbeat and hard working. He would be an asset to any band or show."
Sam Packwood - Vocalist for The "Abbey Rhodes" Beatle Tribute Band
"This guy has a fantastic future ahead of him and is worth booking for any guitar work. Great presentation, plays great to a crowd and can learn a song in under 5 minutes. When he plays a show, he means it!"
Lee Cadman - Vocalist for The Ultimate Robbie Showband
"I highly recommend working with Sam. He is a versatile and intuitive musician with a great feel for any type of music"
Seb Kedziora - Vocalist/Rhythm guitar for Seb and Sam
"A great drummer who plays to a high standard...very professional and easy to work with"
Bob Thomas - Bassist for RockSka
